A healthy diet can play a big role in keeping your whole body healthy, including keeping your mouth clean and in good shape. In fact, eating nutritious foods can help prevent cavities, tooth decay, gum disease, and other harm that can be done by improper dental care. The occasional sweet treat is okay, but treats like ice cream can have both good and sneaky effects on your smile.
In this video, see that while ice cream is full of calcium that is beneficial for your teeth, it’s also typically filled with sugar or contains sugary and sticky add-ins or toppings that get stuck in your teeth and produce acids that cause tooth decay. Dairy products are filled with calcium and phosphates, which strengthens your teeth by rebuilding enamel and remineralizing them. But, sugar feeds a certain kind of bacteria in your mouth that produces acids that cause cavities. Learn how to avoid these effects by eating ice cream with a meal. When you eat ice cream with other foods, the other foods you eat can wash away some of the sugar. Another thing you can do to care for your teeth is rinsing your mouth with water after eating ice cream, as this also helps to wash away some of the sugar. You can also chew some sugar-free gum after eating this sugary treat.
Use these tips to be able to enjoy this cold treat and the calcium it provides while keeping your teeth safe from sugar that causes cavities.
Discussion Questions
What are some of the effects ice cream can have on your smile?
What about ice cream makes it bad for your teeth?
What does ice cream contain that is essential for having strong teeth?
What are some things you should do after eating ice cream to maintain good oral health?