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 It’s Never too Late to Straighten Your Smile

Braces as an adult? No way. At least, that was what I thought when my dentist told me that I was going to have to see an orthodontist about my crooked teeth. But my teeth were so misaligned that they were causing me pain when I chewed, so I decided to at least look into it. Turns out braces today are nothing like the ones my friends had when I was a kid. Mine were practically invisible, and I didn't need to wear them that long. I started this blog to encourage other people like me who are nervous about the prospect of wearing braces as an adult. My straight smile is so worth the trips to the orthodontist, and wearing braces was nowhere near as bad as I thought. Read on to find out more about how you can straighten your smile.

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It’s Never too Late to Straighten Your Smile

Put Down the Fork! Four "Healthy" Snacks That Are Bad for Your Child's Teeth

by Jacqueline Byrd

As a parent, you try to feed your child a nutritious diet. Due to the prevalence of added sugar, it can be tricky finding a snack that is good for their body and their teeth. Think twice before serving these four snacks to your children.

1. Fruit Snacks

You may be tempted to give your children fruit snacks as a healthier alternative to candy. Not only are many brands chock full of sugar, but the stickiness of the fruit snacks often spells disaster for your child's teeth.

Since the fruit snacks are so sticky, they easily adhere to your child's teeth. They also become stuck in the gums. Saliva usually washes food away, but the stickiness of the fruit makes it difficult for this process to occur. Teeth are bathed in sugar from the fruit snacks, and this can result in tooth decay.

2. Dried Fruit

Dried fruit sounds like a healthy option, but you're better off sticking with real fruit when possible. Dried fruit suffers from the same issue as fruit snacks: it is sticky and high in sugar.

After your kids eat dried fruit, have them brush their teeth to remove the sticky leftover food particles. If they cannot brush, swishing around some water helps remove a portion of the stuck on food.

3. Smoothies

Smoothies can be a healthy snack, but all too often, they are packed with sugar. When your child drinks the smoothie, it bathes the teeth in the sugar. This is especially problematic if your child requires an extended period of time to drink the smoothie.

Make smoothies healthier by sticking with real fruit and ingredients that are low in sugar. Have your child finish the smoothie in one sitting, using a straw if possible to prevent contact with the teeth.

4. Crunchy Snacks

Crackers seem like a smart alternative to potato chips or cookies, but they pose a very real threat to your child's oral health. When they chew the cracker, pieces of the cracker quickly get stuck between the teeth and in and around the gum line. If the pieces are left on the teeth, they turn to sugar and may cause tooth decay.

To keep your children's teeth healthy, have them eat crunchy snacks in a single sitting. Don't let them snack throughout the day. 

You want to serve your children nutritious snacks that give their bodies the vitamins and minerals they need. Help keep their teeth healthy as well by limiting snacks that contribute to poor oral health. Talk to a pediatric dentist for more tips.

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