Summer brings more chances to socialise and more aperitivos, and there is nothing wrong with that, quite the opposite. The important thing is not to neglect your oral hygiene and to choose snacks and drinks sensibly.
The heat and the long summer days encourage people to get together more often to share food and drink. But the ritual of an aperitivo with friends should not lead you to neglect the health of your teeth and your oral hygiene in general. The excessive sugar found in the alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks typically served at aperitivo time can expose your teeth to tooth decay and other oral diseases.
How sugar damages your teeth
As we saw in a previous article, eating too much sugar puts the health of your teeth at risk, eroding the enamel and exposing them to decay. This is because the bacteria in the mouth feed on carbohydrates.
What many people do not know, however, is that tooth decay, usually associated with sweets and desserts, can also be caused by savoury snacks, crisps, canapés, fizzy drinks and alcoholic and non-alcoholic long drinks, all of them full of hidden sugars. This does not mean giving up convivial moments, but rather choosing carefully what you eat and drink at aperitivo time so as to protect the health of your teeth.
The perfect aperitivo for healthy teeth
Which drinks and foods contain no hidden sugars and can be enjoyed at aperitivo time? Here are a few examples of alternative snacks:
- cheese
- salmon
- black olives
- anchovies
- walnuts
- vegetable crudités with oil
As for drinks, choose herbal infusions, iced tea and fruit long drinks that are strictly sugar-free or, if you do not want to give up alcohol, a good glass of red wine, which contains less sugar than white. It is also a good idea to eat some cheese at the end of your aperitivo to buffer the acidity of food and drinks. Last but not least, remember to brush your teeth thoroughly, waiting at least half an hour after consuming acidic food and drinks, and never skip your dental check-ups.
Credits: Photo by Kelsey Knight on Unsplash
