Many people worry that snacking will cause decay. In fact not all snacks are the same: what you eat, how often and when decides how much harm teeth suffer.
- How often you snack matters as much as how much sugar you eat, because each snack exposes teeth to acid for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Better choices include plain yoghurt, cheese, raw vegetables and less sour fruit.
- Limit sticky sweets, hard sweets sucked for long and sugary drinks sipped all day.
- Eat in one go, rinse afterwards and brush carefully before bed.
Why can snacking cause decay?
Each time you eat, bacteria in the mouth turn sugar and starch into acid for about 20 to 30 minutes, and enamel is vulnerable during that time. If you snack many times through the day, your teeth are bathed in acid for hours. This is why how often you eat matters as much as how much sugar you eat. You may also read our article on whether bubble tea and soft drinks harm teeth.
Which foods are better choices?
- Plain unsweetened yoghurt, cheese and boiled eggs.
- Raw vegetables such as carrot, cucumber and greens, which need plenty of chewing and encourage saliva flow.
- Less sour fruit such as banana, papaya or pear, ideally eaten with a meal.
- Unsalted, unsweetened nuts in moderate amounts, if your teeth are healthy.
Which foods should you limit?
- Toffee, sticky sweets and sweet biscuits, which cling to teeth for a long time.
- Hard sweets sucked slowly, and sugary drinks sipped through the day.
- Crisps and similar snacks that catch between the teeth.
When should you snack?
- Eat in one go instead of grazing through the morning.
- Limit how many times you snack, especially sweet food, and avoid snacking right before bed.
- Rinse your mouth or drink plain water afterwards, and brush twice a day.
What about children's snacks?
Children snack more often than adults, so parents can offer snacks at set times and choose unsweetened yoghurt, cut fruit and soft vegetables instead of sweets and biscuits. After eating, let the child take a few sips of plain water, and do not let a child eat and play at the same time all morning. Do not let a child eat something sweet and then fall asleep without brushing.
You can also read our articles on everyday habits that harm teeth and on decay in adults. You are welcome to walk in during opening hours at Nha Khoa Kỳ Hòa, 266A - 268, 3 Tháng 2 Street, Hòa Hưng Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, or call the hotline 028.3868.1097 (Zalo 082.299.3377) to ask about quieter time slots.
Frequently asked questions
Is snacking at night bad for teeth?
It can be, because saliva is low at night so teeth decay more easily. If you do snack, rinse your mouth and brush carefully before sleep.
Is fruit bad for teeth?
Less sour fruit is a better choice, while very sour fruit is best eaten with a meal and followed by rinsing with plain water.
Do I need to brush straight after a snack?
Not necessarily. Rinsing with plain water is enough, and wait about 30 minutes before brushing if the snack was sour.