Dried fruit is such a sneaky culprit, right? I’ve seen so many kids (and adults) come in with cavities hiding right where those sticky bits get wedged. Even brushing sometimes doesn’t cut it—floss really is the unsung hero here. Swishing helps too, but nothing beats getting the gunk out from between teeth.
You nailed it—dried fruit fooled me for years. Used to pack raisins in my lunch, thinking I was being healthy...then came the fillings. Flossing really does make a difference, even if it feels like a chore sometimes. It’s worth it for the peace of mind.
Flossing really does make a difference, even if it feels like a chore sometimes. It’s worth it for the peace of mind.
I used to think brushing was enough, honestly. But after my second cavity in the same tooth (and a lecture from my dentist), I finally got serious about flossing. It’s not fun, but neither is sitting in that chair with your mouth open for an hour. I still eat dried apricots sometimes, but now I treat them more like candy than health food. Funny how much marketing messes with our heads...
Dried apricots are sneaky, right? I used to snack on them during my braces days, thinking I was being so healthy... until my orthodontist pointed out how sticky they are and how easily they get wedged in the brackets. I swear, flossing with braces is a whole different level of patience. But yeah, after getting a couple of those “you missed a spot” comments at my cleanings, I finally got into the habit. It’s still a pain, but like you said, it beats the drill.
Funny thing is, I never thought much about how sugar hides in so-called healthy snacks. Granola bars, fruit leathers, even some yogurts—I started checking labels after my last cavity scare. Has anyone else felt like their “healthy” choices turned out to be not-so-great for their teeth? Sometimes I wonder if it’s better to just have the real candy and brush right after...
Totally get where you’re coming from. I went through the same thing with raisins and “healthy” trail mixes—figured I was making a better choice, but my ortho was quick to point out how they basically glue themselves to brackets. It’s wild how much sugar sneaks into stuff that looks good for you on the shelf. I used to think fruit snacks were just fruit, but the ingredient lists say otherwise.
Honestly, I started just having a small piece of chocolate if I wanted something sweet. At least it melts away instead of sticking around for hours. The flossing is still a pain, but it does get easier with time (and those little floss threaders help). You’re definitely not alone in this—sometimes it feels like no matter what you pick, there’s a catch. But hey, at least we’re thinking about it and trying to do better, right?
