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. In this video, you’ll see why snacking on beef jerky can be good and sneaky for your smile at the same time.
Jerky is high in both protein and phosphorus, making it a good choice for maintaining strong teeth as they protect and rebuild tooth enamel. It’s a tasty, healthy snack that has the potential to be good for your teeth and body. Though, since jerky is chewy, it can cause teeth and jaw pain, get caught in teeth, damage braces and dentures, and it sometimes contains added sugars. To maximize the health benefits and enjoyment you get out of eating jerky, make sure to look at the ingredients and avoid jerky that is coated, glazed, or flavored. Be mindful of what you eat, as jerky with additional flavorings can contain things that aren’t good for your teeth, like added sugars, and given how sticky it can become, it could get stuck in your teeth.
Use the following discussion questions to recall and check for understanding about the benefits and risks of eating jerky as mentioned in the video. You can enjoy it and experience benefits, but make sure that you’re also aware of the potential risks. Enjoy the food you eat while you keep your teeth healthy!
Discussion Questions
What are the pros of snacking on beef jerky?
What are the cons of snacking on beef jerky?
What are some things you should avoid when snacking on beef jerky?
Do you like to eat beef jerky? If so, is your favorite jerky good for your teeth?