As 2021 gets started, we know it’s common to set nutrition goals for you and other members of your family. As you know, and we cover often, the food you eat can play a significant role in your oral health. This is true for both adults and kids alike. That’s why we’re talking about some of the best foods you can give your kids to snack on that also are likely to help keep their teeth healthy. Crunchy Fruits and Vegetables Fruits and vegetables are a great source of vitamins and minerals for your children’s entire bodies. They’re also high in fiber which is great for teeth. As an added bonus, chewing these hard and crunchy (tasty too) foods can give an additional scrub to your kids teeth helping to remove particles of food. Nutritious and good for your teeth! Need some specific suggestions? Apples and celery with peanut butter can be a great choice, or carrots and broccoli with a hummus dip can be another excellent choice. While citrus fruits can be a great snack time option as well, it’s important to remember that they do contain citric acid which can damage tooth enamel if there is prolonged exposure....

It’s widely documented that tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States. According to the CDC nearly 40 million adults in the United States still smoke cigarettes and about 4.7 middle and high school students use at least one tobacco product, including e-cigarettes. While many are familiar with the cancer-causing properties of tobacco and tobacco products, the impact that these products have on your overall oral health can be just as detrimental. Here are just a few ways that these products can impact your mouth and why it’s important to see a dentist regularly. Cavities – tobacco use in general causes damage to your tooth enamel. Chewing tobacco especially has a lot of sugar in it which erodes the enamel at the tooth root and causes cavities to develop. Users of smokeless tobacco products are four times as likely to develop cavities than those who don’t use chewing tobacco or snuf. The more frequently the tobacco product is used, the higher the risk of developing this type of damage. Gum Disease – Gum disease which is also known as periodontal disease is an infection that forms in the gums and if left untreated...