Healthy Summer Snacks for Your Teeth

On a hot summer day, nothing hits the spot like a cool, refreshing treat. Unfortunately, many of the go-to summer treats—like ice cream, popsicles, and iced coffee—are full of sugar. Too much sugar can be harmful to your teeth. Why? It all has to do with the relationship between bacteria and sugar in the mouth. Both good and bad bacteria live in the mouth. Bad bacteria feed off sugar, so the more sugar you eat, the more bad bacteria you’ll have in your mouth. This bacteria creates acids that can wear down your tooth enamel and can cause cavities.

Luckily, there are plenty of healthy summer snacks that are low in sugar but high on taste. Treat yourself and your family with one of these cool options on a hot summer day:

Homemade Fruit Popsicles
Kids love popsicles, but store-bought popsicles often have a high sugar content. By making fruit popsicles at home you can ensure that the frozen treats are made with real fruit and natural sweeteners, like honey. The possibilities are endless; think flavors like peach strawberry yogurt, minty watermelon, blackberry lemon, or orange mango coconut. They sound so good even adults will love them!

Frozen Yogurt
If ice cream is your summer treat of choice, you can get a similar taste by making homemade frozen yogurt. Yogurt is high in calcium (which is good for your teeth) and lower in sugar than ice cream. You can make your own frozen yogurt flavors with an ice cream maker and enjoy it in a bowl or a cone. Frozen yogurt bites are also a popular option, especially for small kids. These are simply made by scooping a cup of yogurt into a bag, snipping the corner, and squeezing dots onto a baking sheet. Freeze and enjoy!

Watermelon
Watermelon is a sweet treat that you can feel good about overindulging in this summer. Not only is watermelon low in sugar, but it also has a high content of malic acid, which acts as a natural teeth whitener! Watermelon can be made into a juice, cut into slices or chunks, or tossed into a smoothie. Watermelon season in Virginia runs from May through September so you can enjoy this tasty snack for several months throughout the year.

Fruit Kebobs
Presentation can make a food seem more appealing, so use this strategy to increase your fruit consumption in the summer. Slice up fruits and slide them on a skewer to make delicious looking (and tasting) fruit kebobs. Add a vanilla or honey yogurt dip to give them an added flair.

Summer is a great time to schedule dental cleanings and check-ups, especially for kids who won’t have to miss school. Call Vacendak Dentistry at (757) 609-3510.