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Saltines May Settle Your Stomach As the Cost of Your Oral Health
Posted on 8/9/2021 by Dr. Christianne Lee
When you don't feel well and your stomach is upset, follow the advice of your elders and eat smaller portions of bland food. Saltine crackers have been the family prescription for upset stomach and nausea for many years as they soak up the acid that sits in an empty stomach, which is often the source of the irritation. Additionally, saltine crackers prevent acid from being released in the stomach. Heavier foods tend to cause more acid production. Saltine crackers are odorless, which helps to ward off nausea, while at the same time, they contain salt, which can replenish your electrolytes. For all these benefits, saltine crackers may seem like an obvious choice when your stomach is not right. However, eating saltines may be at the cost of your oral health.
How Cavities Form
It is important to realize how cavities form so you can avoid the foods which cause them. When you eat something with sugar or refined carbohydrates, the bacteria in your mouth consume it. The bacteria produce a waste product after eating the sugar off your teeth. This byproduct is an acid. The acid is what causes cavities. The enamel on your teeth is not strong enough to resist acid, and it decalcifies or demineralizes the tooth enamel. This process causes tooth decay and cavities.
Saltines contain refined carbohydrates. When consumed, saltine crackers turn to sugar soon after you chew them. The crackers stay on and in your teeth, resulting in a feast for cavity-forming bacteria.
Come See us Today
Make an appointment for your next professional cleaning and dental exam. We will work with you to make sure you are proactive about your oral health and talk through good food choices for your lifestyle. We want to help you eat foods that will benefit your overall health.