How to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth

Love the ooey goodness of homemade brownies? Is it a necessity to pick up a few extra candies from the checkout lane of the grocery store? Always pack a few cookies in your lunch bag to much on during the day? Sweets are definitely a part of our culture, and while it’s okay for many of us to enjoy sugar-based goodies in moderation, too much sugar spikes insulin levels, which may cause us to store excess fat. Excess sugar also contributes to tooth decay. However, it is possible to enjoy a sweet life and also maintain a healthy lifestyle. Here are a few tips for some on-the-go snacks:

Accessorize Your Fruits: Fruits contain lots of vitamins, minerals, and disease-fighting antioxidants. Create a quick and easy dessert with fruits: sprinkle cinnamon, dabble honey, or blend with yogurt. The combination of the juicy fruit with the savory treat will make for a scrumptious snack or dessert.

Freeze Your Fruits: Frozen fruits can dramatically change the texture of a fruit and make for a great summer snack.

Substitute Candy for Energy: While candy bars are easy for us to grab on the go, they are loaded with more sugar than our body likes. It is possible to enjoy a quick snack and also stay healthy. Check out the energy bar section of your grocery store next time you are shopping. Look for the energy bars that are low in sugar or contain lots of fruit. Try to avoid energy bars with artificial ingredients, and go for all-natural or organic ones, which are much easier for our bodies to consume.

Go Dark: If chocolate is a must, then substitute a few pieces of dark chocolate for milk chocolate. Dark chocolate is loaded with antioxidants and has a rich taste. Look for dark chocolates combined with dried fruit or nuts to add a little more nutrition to your day.

Foods for Healthy Teeth

           Even if you brush your teeth twice a day and gargle with mouthwash you are only doing half of what it takes to keep a healthy smile.  Having a good smile needs more than just toothpaste. It is also about what you eat.  There are many satisfying foods that are beneficial to the health of your teeth.. Below are some tips to eat your way to a healthier smile.

Start out with inspecting how often you eat.  Are you a heavy snacker?  Studies show that people who snack frequently throughout the day are more vulnerable to cavities.  Why?  Eating often means new bacteria entering your mouth, causing potential cavities, leading to tooth decay.  Snack less often throughout the day to avoid this problem.  But if you just cannot peel yourself away from your daily snacks, perhaps take a look at what it is exactly you are consuming.     
       

There are several good food options to choose from first when it comes to snacking.  These foods will not only improve your teeth but overall health as well.  If you have a big sweet tooth and you must eat something sweet, turn away from candy.  Such things as hard candies are horrible for your teeth’s health.  They are chock full of sugars which harbor on your teeth.  Choose healthier options such as hard fruits.  Apples and pears are perfect examples of this.  These fruits are full of natural water which washes away their natural sugars from your teeth and also stimulate saliva flow which has the same effect.  Raw vegetables are also perfect for this same reason.  But not all fruits are necessarily good for your teeth’s health.  Bananas and dried fruits are ones that can cause cavities.  They are softer and full of more sugars. 

Recommended foods to improve your teeth’s health include cheese, celery, water, and yogurt.  These are also great snack options.  Water is always a great choice because it washes away any bacteria sticking to your teeth.  If you find that you need a little flavor try unsweetened tea or milk.  Leave the colas, sweet teas and lemonades in the fridge.  Other good food choices include nuts and meat.  These are full of calcium and phosphorus which re-mineralize teeth and helps to protect tooth enamel.  But what about chewing gum?  Chew away! Turns out gum stimulates saliva flow which helps to clean teeth and also helps to dislodge food particles from in between teeth.  There are also many brands of gum that contain anti-cavity ingredients.

Closely observe your eating habits from now on.  Stay away from those sugary snacks; eat plenty of raw vegetable and hard fruits.  Chew sugar free gun and drink plenty of water.  Next step, SMILE!

For more information on how to keep you teeth healthy, give Affleck Dental a call today!