Seven snacks that are good for your teeth

Snacks that are good for your teeth

When you’re feeling hungry between meals, reach for a healthy snack instead of a snack that will give you cavities. In this post, we’ll list some of the sinless snacks that will appease your appetite without harming your teeth.

Smile and say cheese

Cheese is a great snack for your teeth. Like all dairy foods, cheese is high in calcium, an essential mineral for your bones and teeth. Cheese is also high in phosphorous, which helps your teeth to absorb calcium.

Furthermore, a study in 2013 found that cheese helps reduces acidity in the mouth. It’s thought that the act of chewing cheese increases saliva in the mouth, which in turn neutralises acids in the mouth.

Explore new cultures

Like cheese, yogurt is high in calcium, which helps keep your teeth healthy and strong. What’s more, yogurt contains good bacteria that helps to crowd out the bad bacteria in your mouth. It’s best to stick to sugar-free yogurt though because ordinary yogurt can be surprisingly high in sugar.

What’s up, doc?

It’s no wonder Bugs Bunny has perfect teeth: he eats so many carrots. Carrots are packed with fibre, and this fibrous texture acts like a natural toothpick and helps to dislodge food stuck between your teeth. The action of chewing carrots also produces saliva, which neutralises acids, kills bacteria and washes away any leftover food. And of course, carrots are low in sugar:100 g of baby carrots contains only around 5 g of sugar. Raw Carrots make a delicious snack on their own, but if you find them boring then why not try eating them with hummus?

Celery-brate good times

Celery is another great vegetable snack for your teeth. Like carrots, the fibre in celery acts like a toothpick and a toothbrush, dislodging food from your teeth and scraping away bacteria. Celery is also high in vitamin A and vitamin C, which are vitamins your body needs for healthy gums.

Go nuts

Almonds, peanuts, brazil nuts, pecans, and cashews: they’re all good for your teeth. Nuts are full of vitamins and minerals such as calcium, folic acid and vitamin D, all of which are beneficial to your teeth and gums. And of course, nuts are naturally low in sugar. Enjoy a handful of nuts as a snack or try adding them to stir-fries.

Open sesame

Seeds are another good snack for your teeth. They’re are high in calcium and low in sugar. Just be sure to have floss handy in case one gets stuck between your teeth.

An apple a day

If all else fails, then reach for an apple. Apples are crunchy, so the act of eating them produces a lot of saliva. They’re also high in antioxidants, which help protect your gums and teeth from bacteria and cell damage.

The bottom line

It’s great to eat healthily, but you should still brush your teeth twice a day and floss once a day, no matter what you eat.