Last week we talked about how increasing the amount of seafood you eat this summer could have you supporting the health of your mouth and teeth. Today dentures Florence, SC provider Dr. Griffin and his staff want to discuss how making a few adjustments to some other classic summertime foods could have you continuing that oral health all season long.
Make Your Own Popsicles
One summer treat everyone loves to cool off with on a hot summer day is the popsicle. These icy treats have been around since our grandparents were kids and trust us folks, popsicles aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. However, the only bad part about popsicles is that most of them these days are made from fruit juices that are more part sugar than they are juice. BUT you can fix this problem right in your home. The next time you are in the grocery store pick up some sugar-free, 100% fruit juice in your favorite flavor. You can then freeze this juice into your own homemade popsicles!
But wait, there’s more!
If you are looking to give your homemade popsicles a little bit of flare then try slicing pieces of fresh fruit like nectarines, strawberries, and raspberries and adding them to the juice before you freeze it into popsicles. Not only will doing this make the popsicles even healthier for your teeth by adding fiber (which is great for your oral health) it will make them look cooler too!
Of course, you can get all the ingredients you need for your homemade popsicles at any local grocery store. Or, you can turn shopping for them into an adventure by visiting the Downtown Farmers Market. This wonderful market is open every Wednesday from 3 pm to 7 pm and offers a wide variety of fresh fruits and veggies for you to take home and enjoy, or turn into popsicles.
Pick Up Some Straws
One thing summer is known for is the cool drinks that come along with it. During hot days, nearly everyone likes to chill out by the pool with an ice cold soda, lemonade, or juice. However, most drinks people reach for first are full of sugar and notoriously bad for your teeth.
However, this is where straws come in handy. When you drink from a straw it allows the liquid you are consuming to enter your mouth with the least amount of contact to your teeth. This means that the sugar in soda pop can be swallowed before it has a chance to cover your teeth in the same way it would if you were drinking it straight from a cup.
Straws also come in a bevy of different shapes, sizes, and colors. This means that you can add a bit of pizzazz to any drink you are sipping poolside this summer. Kids love them as well, which means that not only will you be helping to protect your own teeth, but theirs as well.
We hope you found some of our summertime hints helpful.
Until next time readers, keep smiling.