How to Pack a Healthy Lunch for Good Oral Health

Eating lunch is a vital part of everyone’s day. The energy that your body needs to perform your daily tasks is harvested out of what you eat and drink. One of the most problematic situations is eating lunch on the go, because you are grabbing things that might not be very healthy for you such as that sugary donut or fast food sausage, egg, and cheese biscuit.

Also, when you are driving in the car and stop by a fast food place, because you’re in a rush, or you only have a set amount of time for lunch, brushing or flossing may be forgotten after you eat. The best bet is to pack a healthy lunch for your teeth, before going into work.

What Foods to Pack for Lunch to Keep Your Teeth Healthy 

Foods play a big part in your body’s health. Eating the right foods can help prevent illnesses and diseases, but most of all eating the right foods can be very beneficial to your teeth. When packing your lunch be sure to pack plenty of good foods and avoid the bad.

Good Foods:

  • •  Fruits to pack include grapes, apples, watermelon, pears, and other melon types. These fruits are great choices because of their firmness and crunchiness. The reason behind fruits being a great choice is that they have a high water concentration. This can dilute any effects that the sugars have on your teeth, but it will not eradicate the sugars.
  • •  Vegetables can also provide scrubbing mechanisms for your teeth and can remove some of the bad bacteria and plaque that attaches to your teeth. Vegetables that are very helpful are celery and carrots. Raw broccoli and cauliflower are also great choices to snack on or pack for your lunch. Be sure to pay attention to what you dip them in, if you use a dip. The sugary dips may wreak havoc on your teeth.
  • •  Dairy products to pack include cheese, milk, and yogurt are great treats for your teeth and your body. The amount of protein and calcium located in yogurt, milk and, cheese can help build strong bones throughout your body, including in your mouth.

 

Bad Foods:

  • •  Citrus fruits that have a high concentration of acidity in them are poor choices for individual snacks. However, the acidity can be minimized when consuming a larger meal such as dinner. If you are packing a large lunch that has other foods that can minimize the acid, packing a citrusy snack is okay.
  • •  Avoid soft drinks and sports drinks, they can be very dangerous for your teeth. Fruit juices are also bad choices because of the acids and sugar located in them. The sugar and acid will attack your tooth enamel and create pits and gaps within it, showing the dentin and nerves.

Everyone knows that brushing and flossing your teeth after a good meal is practicing great oral hygiene, but helping to eat foods that are good for your teeth can also be considered practicing great oral hygiene. The nutrients that our bodies need to produce energy and keep us healthy.

Sugary foods or breakfast bars that are packed full of chocolate chips and sugar can cause your energy levels to sky rocket, but it can also cause you to crash later on and feel horrible. That’s only what it does to your body, your teeth are packing on plaque each bite of that chocolate crunch bar. The plaque can cause other issue to arise such as gum disease or the inflammation of your gums.

If you or a loved one is experiencing difficulty deciding which foods are right for your oral health, or have other dental needs, please contact our office today at (208) 375-1012.