With summer in full swing, dental implant provider Dr. Barksdale and the rest of his staff have decided to post an article about summer food. Today, we are going to tell you which popular summer food you should avoid if you are trying to improve or maintain your oral health in the next few months.
Let’s take a closer look
Summer Foods to Avoid for Better Oral Health
Hot Dogs
Unfortunately, the first item on our list is one of the most iconic summer foods around.
Hot dogs will be found at almost every single event you attend in the coming months, whether it be a festival, BBQ, or picnic.
Regardless of their popularity, though, the fact that hot dogs are loaded with processed saturated fat does not change. It’s that same processed fat that poses a threat to your oral health.
Why?
Because it can cause inflammation in your body. Now you might be wondering what inflammation possibly has to do with your mouth. The answer might surprise you.
Many people are aware of the fact that inflammation can aggravate your joints and back, but very few are also aware that it can constrict the intricate vascular web that keeps the gum tissue in your mouth healthy. These veins supply your gums with the oxygen they need to stay healthy. When they are inflamed they cannot transport blood as easily and gum disease can set in.
When it comes to oral health, gum disease is a no-no, especially if you are taking care of dental implants.
Bacon and bologna are examples of other meats that have the same processed saturated fat that hot dogs have. Our advised is to try and stick to unprocessed meats and go easy on the bacon for the sake of your smile.
Granola Bars
Many people like to go on hikes and other types of outdoor adventures in the summer. This is something any person in the health industry can get behind. We’re all for healthy physical activity.
However, snacks are usually always packed to go along with these outdoor adventures and one of the most common on-the-go snacks is the granola bar.
The sad truth about granola bars is the majority of them aren’t actually as good for you as they claim to be.
Why?
Many popular brands of granola bars actually contain more sugar than a donut. We’re not kidding. If you don’t believe us, just take a look at the ingredients on a few packages for yourself.
Our suggestion is that you stick to granola bar brands that have only a few ingredients in them and make sure those ingredients are ones you can pronounce. No chemicals, no hard to read names. These are all bad signs. Also, make sure you take a look at the sugar content. Go with brands that have eight grams of sugar or less.
White Bread
White bread’s presence on this list is yet another blow for picnics and BBQ’s.
However, it’s an easy fix.
Make your picnic sandwiches with whole wheat bread and if you are eating something that requires a bun this summer, buy whole wheat buns.
White flower has something called refined flour in it. This flour can have effects on your body similar to those of hot dogs. It can cause inflammation.
As you know from reading above, inflammation is something you want to avoid in the oral health world.
We hope this short list helps you get off on a healthier foot this summer.
Until next time readers, stay hydrated and keep smiling.
