Top Shelf Dental Advice
by Dr. Stephen J. Parr D.D.S.
Read Top Shelf Dental Advice by Dr. Stephen J. Parr D.D.S. to learn more about Grove Smiles® Dentistry and our Dentistry office in Coconut Grove, FL.
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We have all become more health oriented especially those of us who are parents or are now recapturing our health from our care-free days of youth. In this quest, we know that fruit is an essential part of the pyramid of a well-balanced, healthy diet. It provides an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants; plus, boosts your immune system which reduces your risk of illness and chronic disease.
Unfortunately, not all the ways you can eat fruit will give you the same benefits.
Dried Fruit Is Natures Candy
Although many people think dried fruit is a great healthy snack it, unfortunately, contains a lot of concentrated sugar due to dehydration and may contain extra unhealthy preservatives from the packaging process.
Besides the increase in simple sugar carbohydrates in dried fruit which will not only increase our waistlines; it could increase our risk of cavities. This cavity risk increase is due to the dried fruits extremely sticky nature which allow the fruit to be present on your teeth longer allowing the harmful bacteria more opportunities to produce the acid which causes tooth decay.
Leave The Canned Fruit On The Shelf
Ahh, fruit in a can! Although preserved fruit can be an alternative to having fruit out of season or allow you to take your time eating it without spoiling, you will find that many canned fruits are bathed in sugary syrup. It may taste great, but it can wreak havoc on your teeth if you’re not careful! Watch out! Even those that are labeled “light syrup” often have a high sugar content.
So if you are a fan of canned fruit as a healthy snack, make sure it doesn’t have any added sugar or is packaged in 100 percent fruit juice.
The Deceptive Fruit Juice
Fruit juice, even if it’s all natural, contains a lot of sugar. What’s worse is that many fruit juices, especially those marketed for children, have added sugar in them. In fact, the majority of fruit juice sold in stores contains just as much sugar as soda, sometimes even more!
With fruit juice, the sugar alone is not the only problem. The other is that juice is often also very acidic. The combination of sugar and acid does not bode well for your teeth, as the acid weakens tooth enamel while the sugar feeds the cavity-causing bacteria contributing to the decay process.
Teeth Smart Simple Rule
As a general rule, try to eat fruit fresh as found in nature! Not only is it better for your teeth, but the fiber in whole fruit slows the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream, making it much healthier for your body. Now, of course, it’s okay to have juice and dried or canned fruit every once in awhile, but make a note to rinse with water after and to not forget to brush and floss to protect your pearly whites!
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Here at Grove Smiles Dentistry in Coconut Grove, FL we are proud to have served thousands of families over the last thirty years. Dr. Stephen Parr continues to look forward to helping you and your families keep your healthy sparkling smiles for life.
If you are looking to whiten, brighten, and keep your teeth healthy for life, call our fantastic team of dentists and hygienists today and let us help you create that confident smile you will love to continue to share.
For Your Health,
Dr. Stephen J. Parr D.D.S.
