Summer Foods and Your Teeth

You’ve probably heard that the health of your teeth depends a lot on your diet. You could say, your smile is what you eat. What you should also know is that summer has a special power to lure you and deceive you into eating foods without taking into account your oral health. For example, when you feel like you’re sweating off half your weight from the heat, and the blazing sun gets to be more than you can stand, you probably find it difficult to pay attention to what you drink, even though you know a sugary soda won’t be good for your teeth.

Summer should be enjoyed, but these tasty temptations can also have long-lasting effects on your teeth that you probably won’t like, including decay and discoloration. So, we’ve written about a few of the foods that you should be careful about in your summer diet, along with items that could serve as healthy substitutes.

1. Summer has a lot of rich dessert temptations. And once you’ve had your first scoop of summer ice cream, it’s hard to go back. Just remember, sugar is “enemy number one” of your oral health, because it makes your mouth a more inviting place for bacteria. Saltwater taffy and other sticky sweets can even pull out your dental fillings, which means that a bacterial breeding ground can result in even faster tooth decay.Our fix: When you crave summer sweets, treat yourself to your favorite summer fruits. Even if you normally store fruit out on the counter, try storing more of it in the fridge this summer. That way, you satisfy your sweet tooth and the cool refreshment you’re really after when you look to ice cream.
2. It might break your heart, but baked beans are loaded with sugar. Just be aware before going back for thirds that one serving of baked beans can carry as many as 30g of sugar. That’s almost as much as a can of soda.Our fix: You’ll want to eat baked beans at some point over the summer, but take care to eat other vegetables along with it. Raw cauliflower, celery and broccoli have a naturally abrasive quality which gives your teeth a mild brushing. For every serving of baked beans you slop onto your plate at the next barbeque, eat raw vegetables along with it.
3. Soda and sweet mixed drinks (carbonated or not) saturate your mouth with acids that can do damage to your teeth. Most of us know how well a cold can of soda can quench thirst on a hot summer day. Lemonade, too, is rarely carbonated but is the most acidic fruit juice you can drink. If you can’t get past the occasional hankering for these beverages, you’ll have to be that much more diligent about your oral hygiene.Our fix: If you find yourself out boating, or walking the streets of your neighborhood with waves of heat rolling off the pavement, you might need a refreshment that water doesn’t seem to satisfy. If you really want a cold, sweet drink, try green tea, no-sugar-added juices, or natural smoothies you make at home.

Smile and eat smart this summer for your best oral health!