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You can still eat snacks with dentist’s 3 useful tips to prevent cavities
We all get snacky now and then, but most of us don’t realize that it can be detrimental to our dental health. People big on snacking are at higher risk of cavities despite brushing twice daily.
Oral hygiene is more complex than people imagine. For example, did you know brushing your teeth immediately after belching causes more damage? Or, that using mouthwash after brushing reduces the effectiveness of the toothpaste? Therefore, the below tips are for you if you love to snack.
Dentist’s advice for snackers to prevent cavity
Studies have shown that women tend to snack more often than men. When one TikTok user raised concerns about her snacking habit that could damage her teeth, Dr. Suhail Mohiuddin offered 3 useful tips.
He clarifies that cavities are caused not just by sugary foods or drinks – even chips and crackers high in carbs are dangerous for your teeth. Therefore, he advises:
“Instead snack on crunchy vegetables; think of carrots, celery, and broccoli because that stimulates your saliva which naturally decreases your cavity risk.”
Chewing sugarless gum between snacks is highly recommended to protect your teeth from further damage, but one type is more effective than others. The dentist advises chewing gums with xylitol, which inhibits bacterial growth and stimulates saliva production.
The third tip is perhaps the easiest of all. Dr. Suhail says drinking water after every meal naturally reduces the risk of cavities. Not only does it keep your mouth hydrated, but it also reduces the acidic nature by returning your mouth to a neutral state.
An additional step can protect your teeth
In addition to the above, one more cleaning step is proven effective for oral hygiene. The food we eat often gets stuck in the gaps between the teeth, so flossing alone may not guarantee thorough cleaning.
Dr. Shaadi Manouchehri, with more than 10 years of experience as a dentist, shares a life-changing hack in one of her videos, that can reverse tooth decaying in the early stages.
All you need to do is spread a tiny amount of toothpaste on an interdental cleaning brush and push it in the gaps between your teeth, once or twice a day.
Interdental cleaning brush should be used after brushing as you regularly do and do not eat anything for about 30 to 60 minutes after cleaning your teeth.
Having graduated from the University of Michigan with a DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery), Dr. Suhail boasts over 15 years of experience and millions of followers on social media. He is also the founder of Dentologie Dental Care Services in multiple U.S. locations.
