Snacking Tips For Reducing The Chances That You Develop Gum Disease

Gum disease is a painful disease from which to suffer. It can take activities that were once simple, such as eating and drinking, and make them absolutely excruciating. Gum disease can even cause your mouth to hurt when you are not actively using it. One major cause of gum disease is food being left on the teeth. If you leave food on your teeth for an extended period of time, your mouth will start to produce acid to try to get rid of the food. This acid will start to eat away at your gums, increasing the chance of infection. Here are some snacking tips to reduce the chances that you develop gum disease.

1. Reduce Snacking

The first thing that you should do is reduce the overall number of times each day that you are snacking. This could mean eating a larger snack during the day instead of two smaller snacks before dinner. This could also mean cutting out snacking entirely and simply eating larger meals. Look at your lifestyle and see what you can do to reduce the amount of times that your teeth are exposed to food. 

2. Choose Foods That Are Going to Produce Less Acid and Protect Your Teeth

If you absolutely need to snack, try to stay away from fermentable carbohydrates because these will increase the overall amount of acid in your mouth. Instead, try to eat more dairy products, lean lunch meats, and nuts. These foods protect your teeth, rather than harming them because they contain the protein and calcium that your teeth need to remineralize and increase their overall strength levels. Other choices that are not going to harm your teeth include firm fruits, such as apples and pears, because the amount of water that they contain is enough to offset their sugar content. Vegetables are another good option. Snacking on foods that do not actively harm your teeth will help your mouth produce more saliva and allow more of the acid to be forced out of the mouth.

3. Floss Your Teeth After Snacks

Finally, if you have the time, try to floss your teeth every time you eat a snack. This will allow you to get rid of any food particles are stuck between your teeth and are therefore not washed away by saliva. This will reduce the amount of acid that your teeth and gums are exposed to and will make your mouth healthier. Brushing after each snack is not a good option because it can wear down your gums and the enamel on your teeth. Flossing does not have this negative side effect.

Contact a local dentist, like Hurst Family Dental, for more information.

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