Crackers- the "Surprise" Cavity

Sometimes called the "surprise" cavity (More Chocolate, No Cavities by Roger Lucas, DDS), these are cavities not caused by the usual culprits like juice, candy or soda. There are different reasons why eating crackers can contribute to tooth decay. First, the starches in crackers, pretzels and cereals break down into sugars as they get jammed between teeth and into the crevices of teeth. We don't usually think of these snacks as cavity-promoting like sweet cookies or brownies, but they are one of the major risk factors for decay in children because they are offered throughout the day, and they are extremely sticky. Both the length of time they are stuck to teeth and the frequency of popping them in as a presumed "healthy" snack each contribute to tooth decay.

It's best to stick with fresh fruits, cheese, and other whole foods instead of these highly processed, sticky carbs. As Dr. Lucas writes "Change the snack foods. Change the time. Don't get surprised!

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