Snack and Sip All Day ? Risk Tooth Decay !

What and how often you eat can affect your teeth . Eating habits and food choices can lead to tooth decay . A steady diet of sugary foods/drinks (including sports drinks) , can damage your teeth . But also snacking/sipping throughout the day or “grazing” can lead to tooth decay. We know that eating sugar causes some of the bacteria in your mouth to produce a acid by product that softens teeth . This acid attacks the tooth surface 20-30 minutes after you eat . So repeated snacks or prolonged sipping for drinks causes the acid to attack your tooth again and again . If you ever did the school experiment where you put a tooth in a bottle of coke or mountain dew and leave it for 24 hours ….the tooth is gone! Repeated acid attacks cause tooth decay , which requires you to be treated by a dentist . To reduce your risk of tooth decay here are some tips ; • Read the labels of the foods and beverages you have to make sure they are low in added sugar • If you have sugary foods and drinks have them with the 3 main meals • Limit sugary drinks and snacks between meals • Chew sugarless gum that has the American Dental Association’s seal , 20 minutes after a meal • Drink water • Brush your teeth 2 times a day with a fluoride toothpaste • See your dentist regularly