From the moment you wake up to the last few minutes before you go to sleep, you’re constantly on the move. You have to rush to work. You must drive your kids to and from school and extracurricular activities. And you can’t forget to shop for groceries, pick up the dry cleaning and stop by the bank.

When you’re on the go, you don’t have the chance to prepare and pack healthy foods. In between tasks, you may only have a few minutes to grab a granola bar or stop by a nearby coffee shop for a doughnut or two.

But these sweet treats and snacks can wreak havoc on your dental health, especially when you don’t have time to brush afterward. The more sugary foods you eat, the greater your risk for cavities and decay.

If you’re in a rush, try grabbing these simple snacks before you step foot out the door. They only take you a minute or so to prepare, and they can keep your teeth in great shape.

1. Cheese Cubes

Although cheese tends to last best when refrigerated, string cheese, cheese cubes and cheese curds all travel well if packaged appropriately. Simply throw a stick or package in your purse or backpack, and you have a flavourful way to feed yourself (or your kids) while on the go.

Cheese is one of the best foods you can eat when you want to maintain a healthy smile. Cheese supplies plenty of vitamin D and calcium for building h3 bones, and it temporarily increases your mouth’s pH levels to keep cavity-causing bacteria at bay.

To read more about the benefits of cheese for your oral health, feel free to check out our previous blog.

2. Raw Almonds
Cashews, almonds, walnuts and pistachios make for the ultimate last-minute snack, as they don’t require any refrigeration or preparation. You can eat them directly out of the box, bag or can, or you can set aside a reasonable portion in a travel-friendly plastic container.

Almonds offer lots of calcium for supporting teeth and nourishing healthy gum tissue. Additionally, almonds supply a hefty amount of vitamin E and can effectively regulate blood sugar levels. As a result, almonds can effectively reduce your risk for periodontal disease.

As you snack, eat nuts with care. If you try to chomp through a harder nut or de-shell the nut with your teeth, you may chip a tooth. If you worry about accidentally damaging your teeth, opt for de-shelled and chopped nuts rather than whole.

Don’t Forget to Brush When You Can

These snacks are a tooth-friendly way to satisfy your hunger pangs when you’re too busy to cook. But remember that even the healthiest foods still have the potential to damage teeth.

Ideally, you should brush within 30 to 60 minutes after snacking. But if you don’t have the opportunity to brush, at least take a few moments to rinse your mouth with water. Water will clear away some of the lingering food particles and restore your mouth’s pH balance.

And though you may be busy, don’t forget to schedule an appointment with your dentist. A single appointment every six months could save you multiple dental surgeries in the future.