Tips to Tame Your "Sweet Tooth" in 2014

Tips to Tame Your "Sweet Tooth" in 2014

As summer comes to an end so does so much of the delicious fruit we have been enjoying. Halloween is just around the corner and massive amounts of candy starts to appear in the stores. How can we control our household’s consumption, and what snack alternatives should we focus on instead?

When you feel a snack attack come on, the first thing you need to identify is if it's a true hunger or thirst-related need for food, or if you're just reacting to stress or boredom. If you are indeed responding to a physical mid-morning or afternoon tummy growl, it's tempting to just grab the first thing that comes your way, so it's wise to plan ahead for snack attacks by making sure that there are always healthy options available close at hand.

Nutritious snacks that are also teeth-friendly include fresh fruit, vegetable sticks, plain popcorn, nuts, seeds and cheese. In fact, cheese is recommended even after a meal. If you can't brush your teeth or rinse your mouth out with water after you eat, munching on a piece of cheese is proven to help protect your teeth against cavities. It may sound strange, but there are a couple of ways this works:

1.      First of all, eating cheese helps to increase the amount of saliva in the mouth, which helps to rinse food particles away.

2.      The second helpful factor is that cheese provides a coating of calcium on the teeth. After a meal, the pH level in your mouth often drops and your mouth becomes more acidic - a potentially damaging situation for teeth. Eating a piece of cheese neutralizes the acids and helps maintain a pH balance in the mouth that is safe for teeth.

Aged cheddar, Swiss, blue cheese, Monterey Jack, Brie, Gouda and processed American cheese have all been shown to reduce dental cavities. Cheese is also an abundant source of natural dietary calcium, making it a smart snack in the most delicious way. (Keep in mind that if you have high cholesterol this is not a good option for you)

Those of you who crave a sugary treat once in a while should keep in mind that some candies are worse than others. For example, sticky treats such as toffee, caramels and jujubes are probably the most harmful for teeth as the remnants from these soft candies stick to teeth and provide a long-lasting food source for the natural bacteria to feed on in the mouth. Even a plain piece of chocolate is a better choice than one filled with a gooey center, where sticky contents may adhere to the teeth.

Remember to floss and brush thoroughly immediately after having your sweet treats. If you can't brush right away then at least rinse your mouth out with water to flush away any residual candy, and get rid of the sugary culprit!

My Top Five Dental Resolutions

1.      I will pay more attention to what I put in my mouth - from food, drinks and tobacco to pens that I chew.

2.      I will brush my teeth at least twice a day for at least 3 minutes each time, no matter how tired or how rushed I am.

3.      I will floss between my teeth every day to remove the stuff that my toothbrush can't reach.

4.      I will schedule regular continuing care appointments with my dentist, ensuring a visit at least every  6 months.

5.      I will check my dental insurance right now to see what it covers for this year. After all, if it pays for me to maintain my good dental health, why shouldn't I take full advantage of it?

Give your dentist a call and schedule your dental visit. There's no better time than the present to start working toward a new year of healthy, bright smiles!

Wishing you a bright and healthy smile, and as always don’t forget to swish, floss, brush and swish again at least twice a day.

Please visit my website at roberthwaldmandds.com.

----Dr. Rob-----