Why Is Snacking Between Meals Bad For Your Teeth?

Research has found that some people prefer to snack throughout the day instead of eating three set meals. Although it may seem harmless, this snacking has a negative impact on your oral health.

Dental Plaque

Plaque is a film of bacteria that covers your teeth. Everyone’s plaque contains bacteria. The bacteria breaks down the sugar in your food to create acid which weakens your enamel that coats your teeth. This means that your mouth becomes more acidic everytime you eat or drink something and it can take upto an hour for the pH to return to normal. The toxins produced by plaque irritate the gums, increasing the risk of gum disease. If you stick to three meals a day then it reduces the number of acid attacks that your teeth face.

Diet

Most people that visit the dentist will be aware of the importance of brushing their teeth twice a day and flossing once daily. However, not everyone realises the role that their diet plays on their oral health. If you are prone to snacking between meals, you might want to try healthier snacks. Resist snacks that are high in sugar or those that are likely to stick to your teeth for long periods of time. For example, sticky sweets like toffees.

Healthier alternatives include crunchy vegetables which contain high amounts of fibre as they will have a slightly cleansing effect on your teeth.

Snacks To Avoid

• Citrus fruits.
• Chewy, sticky, sugary sweets.
• Pickles are low calorie but they are highly acidic.

Snacks To Try

• Seaweed Snacks.
• Fresh raw vegetables: carrot and cucumber.
• Crispy fruits: apple and pear. They’re lower in sugar that other fruits and high in fibre.
• Nuts like almonds and cashews.