Totally relate to the granola bar thing—I used to snack on dried fruit thinking it was a healthy choice until I realized how sticky and sugary it actually is. Even natural sugars can cling to your teeth and cause trouble if you're not careful. Xylitol gum is pretty good though, despite the weird taste at first. Just make sure to keep it away from pets—it's super toxic for dogs, and I've heard some scary stories about accidental ingestion...
Dried fruit is definitely sneaky like that—people often underestimate how sticky it gets between teeth. Xylitol gum's a solid choice though, helps neutralize acids and boost saliva flow. And yeah, pets and xylitol...not a good combo, sadly heard a few horror stories myself.
"Dried fruit is definitely sneaky like that—people often underestimate how sticky it gets between teeth."
Couldn't agree more with this. When I first got braces, dried fruit was one of those snacks I thought would be harmless...until I spent ages trying to clean bits of dried apricot out of my brackets. Lesson learned the hard way! Xylitol gum has been a lifesaver though, especially after meals when brushing isn't immediately possible. It really does help keep things fresh and neutralize some of that acidity.
And yeah, about pets and xylitol—it's heartbreaking how many people don't realize how dangerous it can be for animals. My vet actually has a warning poster about it in the waiting room, which I think is a great idea. Better safe than sorry, right?
I get the braces struggle, but honestly, dried fruit isn't always the villain it's made out to be. Fresh fruit can be just as acidic and sugary—think citrus or pineapple. Moderation and rinsing with water afterward usually does the trick for me...
I see your point, but isn't dried fruit way stickier? I mean, fresh fruit might be acidic, sure, but it doesn't cling to your teeth the same way raisins or dried mango do. I remember my orthodontist specifically warning me about dried fruit because of how easily it gets stuck around brackets and wires...and trust me, picking bits of dried apricot out of braces is not fun. Maybe it's less about acidity alone and more about texture and stickiness?
