So many times, we hear of the dangers of certain foods that are high in sugar and how bad they can be on your teeth. More often than not, these foods end up being candy, ice cream, and other high-sugar snacks that are unhealthy in general (and things that most adults don’t eat on a regular basis anyway). So yeah, we get that those aren’t good for your teeth. We learned this as kids. But one very adult treat that doesn’t get talked about nearly as much when it comes to dental health is coffee. Considering that coffee is one of the most popular drinks for adults to consume on a daily basis, it’s no wonder that it isn’t often mentioned as bad for your teeth. Why? Well, probably because no one wants to admit the truth to themselves. Anytime we’re faced with a fact about our health that challenges our everyday habits and routines, we shut down and choose to ignore the evidence. I’m here to inform you a little about why daily consumption of coffee can impact your dental health negatively over the years. And it starts with the sugars in a lot of fancier coffees and creamers. You see, drinking coffee black is your best bet when considering all the options out there. Since straight coffee is mostly devoid of sugars, you don’t have to worry nearly as much about it affecting your vulnerability to cavities and other dental issues. But when it comes to flavored coffees from major chains and creamers from the store, you’re absolutely introducing a boat load of sugars to your teeth with every cup of coffee you drink. What’s worse is that the tannins naturally found in coffee help to strip enamel from your teeth, meaning that the sugars in these coffees are much more potent at affecting your dental health for the worse. And speaking of tannins, even if you do choose to avoid most flavored coffees and creamers that are loaded in sugar, you’re still not doing your teeth any help by allowing your enamel to be stripped down over time. What ends up happening soon after is the dark color of coffee can imprint itself on your teeth. Staining is common for heavy coffee drinkers who have a subpar dental routine, meaning even dark coffee drank straight isn’t that great for your teeth over time.
Our suggestion to combat both of these problems? Try to cut back some on your coffee intake on a daily basis while also remembering to brush your teeth directly after finishing your drink.
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When it comes to having snacks handy for on the go needs, there are a few fan favorites that are always recommended to anyone new to hiking, road trips, camping, or any other outdoor activity that doesn’t usually allow for cooking a meal. Those main snacks are notably small, cheap, full of nutrients and energy, and weigh next to nothing in order to not weigh down your pack. But more often than not, the main things suggested end up being protein bars and other granola bars. And while these are fantastic for your hiking and camping trips, I always advise people to be careful on how many they pack. Varying your snacks is good for your health in general, but it also may be worth looking into the nutrients and dietary information on different protein bars. Why? Well, a lot of these things are loaded with sugar. Yes, sugars are good when you need that burst of energy to keep on going when outdoors. But if you mow through three or four protein bars in a day and happen to be an active hiker or camper, these could catch up with your dental health in a bad way. Our suggestion is to opt for more natural protein or energy bars that have raw ingredients like nuts and fruits. At the very least, you’ll be consuming fewer processed ingredients and more natural things. But even better, the sugar content always seems to plummet when you opt for natural, raw ingredients. So consider something else like trail mix to supplement your snacking items. There’s a reason trail mix is so amazing for hiking: because it’s jam packed with good protein and nutrients and sugars that will help you to keep chugging along. Even better, they’re almost always natural and not processed (unless you go with something that has chocolate covered whatever inside).
The biggest thing to remember outside which snacks you take, though, is your travel toothbrush. Heck, you don’t even need but a few sips of water to rinse, so taking a toothbrush to go is the best case scenario for warding off any bacteria that will feast on those sugars you’ve been snacking on. And if you can manage it, bring along a few flossing picks as well so that nothing is sitting lodged between your teeth as you’re traveling. Considering hygiene is less important than other survival things when you’re out in the wilderness, this is the perfect time for cavity-causing bacteria to have a heyday. |
Genaro Stringer
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