17 September 2023 , 18:19
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An expert has revealed that your go-to office snacks might be putting your teeth at risk in the long run. Some of the healthy desk-draw mainstays have been revealed to do more damage than good.
Dental expert Dr Khaled Kasem, Chief Orthodontist at Impress, London, said that some of these foods have a far greater effect on our teeth than we realise and they can cause dental cavities.
Speaking of oral hygiene said that maintaining good dental hygiene depends on having aligned teeth. This is to avoid gaps that become easily accessible for food to get trapped. He recommends opting for vegetables before the sandwiches and to always brush your teeth after eating.
Dr Khaled has broken down what he believes to be the biggest culprits in office snacks and has provided some ideas for healthier options to replace these.
Tea
This can be the classic, seemingly harmless mid-afternoon break, marking the beginning of the back end of your day. But for those reaching for cup after cup, this may be negatively impacting your oral health.
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Dr Kasem told FEMAIL: “Breakfast teas and coffee eventually cause staining, and lemon or honey added to herbal teas can cause enamel erosion.'This is even more likely if you wear aligners. Remember to take them out before drinking your tea, and give your mouth a good rinse and clean before putting them back in. Swap your tea and coffee out for sugar-free or unsweetened teas to protect your pearly whites.”
Oat Milk
Oat milk has become the gen-z milk of choice in recent years, the oat-flat white becoming a fast favourite, especially for vegans or those with lactose intolerance. Although oat milk might not be actively harming your teeth, it is more what it’s not doing compared with its dairy counterpart that might affect your oral health.
Dr Khaled warns that oat milk lacks the cavity-protective ingredients found in regular whole milk. He said: “If oat milk is a necessary substitute for you, then be sure to make up for the proteins and vitamins you’ll be missing out on.”
Birthday cake
Unfortunately for those bringing in a cake for a colleague, this gesture is no good for your team's teeth. Dr Khaled added: “The sticky plaque on your teeth feeds off of the sugar in cake frosting, creating acid that eventually causes decay. Next time you decide to indulge, give your teeth a quick brush or mouth a rinse after consuming to wash away any remnants and keep plaque from this sugary snack at bay.”
Dried Fruits
A jumbo bag of dried fruit might seem like a sensible idea for those trying to opt for healthier options at their desk but it is in fact jam-packed with sugar.
Dr Khaled explained that dried fruit is usually saturated with sugar to preserve it, so it's best to swap these out for whole fruit. He said that fresh fruit is also great for improving your breath, as it cleans out the odour-producing bacteria in your mouth.
Bananas
However, bananas do not make the list of safe fresh fruit. Although bananas contain multiple nutrients and vitamins, they have a high sugar content and are high in glucose, fructose, and sucrose.
Sucrose, glucose, and fructose are types of sugar that are mainly found in fruits and vegetables, but can also be added to processed foods.
Dr Khaled added: “In small doses, bananas are completely fine, but make sure to brush and rinse your teeth after consuming to wash away any residual food that could break down into sugars and cause oral health problems.”