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.

The post Seven snacks that are good for your teeth appeared first on Benson Dental Practice.

In nine out of ten cases, bad breath is caused by a dental problem. These problems include gum disease, tooth decay, poor dental hygiene, tongue coat, throat infection, and faulty restorations.

But did you know that food can also cause bad breath? It’s true: some foods have been scientifically proven to promote halitosis. Read on to find out more.

Culprits of bad breath

• Garlic and onions. If you always eat garlic and onions, then it shouldn’t be a surprise that your breath sometimes makes people turn away in horror, and not just vampires either. Both garlic and onions contain smelly sulphur compounds that linger in your mouth. These compounds are expelled when you exhale, thus letting everyone in a five-metre radius know exactly what you had for lunch. And there’s not much you can do about the smell either. As the author of author of Garlic: The Mighty Bulb says, “It goes right into your system and seeps out through your pores, not just your breath.”
• Alcohol and caffeine. Alcohol and caffeine can also cause bad breath. Again, this is probably not a surprise. Who hasn’t woken up with a hangover and then discovered they have morning breath? Alcohol and caffeine cause bad breath in the same way: decreased saliva production. When you drink an espresso or sip a cocktail, the saliva production in your mouth is decreased. This makes your mouth go dry, which is the perfect environment for bacteria to grow. The bacteria in turn produce smelly gases that cause bad breath. So, if you want to avoid bad breath, think twice about your nights on the town and your daily caffeine dose.
• Spicy foods. This is also common sense, but spicy foods such as strong curries can temporarily cause bad breath. This is because spices such as cumin have a strong and lasting aroma. Just think of the breath of people stumbling out of their local curry house. Or on second thought, maybe don’t.

Foods and drinks that combat bad breath

Thankfully, some drinks and food actually make your breath smell better.

• Water. Water is a great choice as it washes away bits of food in your mouth, and promotes saliva production. It’s also odor-free. What’s not to love?
• Chewing gum. Chewing gum is another way to reduce bad breath. The act of chewing secretes saliva, which in turn helps kill the bacteria in your mouth. Gum also helps loosen bits of food from your teeth. But don’t use gum that contains sugar, otherwise you’ll be encouraging bacteria instead of killing them.

Conclusion

If you have persistent bad breath, then see your dentist or doctor. Sometimes bad breath can be a sign that there’s something seriously wrong with your body, such as diabetes, cancer or even liver failure. Rest assured though that most cases of bad breath go away with after an improved oral hygiene routine.

The post Which foods cause bad breath? appeared first on Benson Dental Practice.