Dr. Pete’s Mouth-Healthy Snacking Guide

Who doesn't love snacks? Dr. Pete and his family love snacks, too! Ben and Graham REALLY love snacks. When it comes to our teeth, not all snacks are created equal, so let’s break it down.

Follow our mouth-healthy snacking guide to keep those smiles healthy and cavity-free!

Definitions: Snack (n.) vs. Snacking (v.)

First, let’s talk Snacks vs. snacking.

Snack (n.) refers to the foods we choose to eat. Dr. Pete groups snacks into 3 categories:

• Sticky foods

• Non-sticky foods

• Fats and proteins

Snacking (v.) describes the act of eating those foods. This is when we eat those foods and how long they stay in the mouth.

• As a general rule, you want to limit the amount of time that food spends in your mouth to prevent cavities.

Now, let’s Talk about Snacks.

What kind of snacks cause cavities?

Sticky foods are delicious. They’re the foods that get stuck in the biting surfaces of our teeth when we eat them. They tend to be made of sugars and processed carbohydrates. Stuck-on foods attract bacteria that make lots of acid. That acid pulls minerals out of our teeth and can lead to cavities!

• Candy

• Cookies

• Fruit snacks & dried fruit

• Cereal

• Crackers & pretzels

• Cheetos

It’s OK to still eat and drink these tasty snacks! Remember these tips:

1. Space out snacks

2. Drink water throughout the day

3. Brush every night to unstick stuck-on foods and get fluoride on teeth

What kind of snacks don’t cause cavities?

Non-sticky foods are delicious and nutritious. Think crunchy fruits and vegetables and plain popcorn. These foods normally do not cause cavities because all of the food gets swallowed after we chew it up. 

Ok, but fruits contain natural sugars, and sugars cause cavities, right?

Exception! Grazing, or snacking throughout the day, on non-sticky foods usually won’t give us cavities unless we graze on them throughout the day! They don’t get stuck on our teeth as easily and don’t attract bacteria that make acid that causes cavities. Even though fruits like apples have natural sugars, they don’t don’t stick in our teeth as much as candy and fruit snacks, so they tend to be a safer bet.

Stick to these snacks to keep cavities away:

• Fresh fruit & veggies (the crunchier, the better!)

• Dark chocolate (70% cacao or more)

• Plain popcorn

These non-sticky foods are a lot less likely to cause cavities, but keep these in mind:

1. The crunchier the fruits and veggies, the better!

2. Milk contains lactose (a sugar) so drink it in moderation

3. Drink water after every snack, especially fruits and ice cream

Proteins & fats—things like meat, cheese, yogurt, nut butters, and eggs—are digested by bacteria much slower, and that’s a good thing! This means less acid from bacteria, so fats and proteins keep cavities at bay. 

• Peanut butter, almond butter, etc.

• Nuts

• Cold cuts and jerky

• Cottage cheese, string cheese, etc.

• Yogurt

• Avocados

Now that you know about the snacks that do and don’t cause cavities, how about a refresher on how kids get cavities and how to prevent your kids from getting cavities?

Have questions about a specific snack your kids like? Drop us an email!