I visited the dentist last week and commented to my hygienist about the timing of my appointment. I’m getting my teeth cleaned right after eating all these Christmas sweets. My mouth must be full of sugar. Thankfully, no cavities, but one thing led to another.
She told me about a mother who gave her boys very little sugar. They couldn’t have candy, but they could have as many goldfish crackers as they wanted throughout the day. Turns out, the crackers were sticking to their teeth, the carbohydrates were turning to sugar, and the sugar was doing a number on their teeth.
The dentist suggested that they have several crackers as a snack once a day, and then rinse immediately with water to wash away the residue.
I came back to the office and googled something like “crackers hurting your teeth” and several sites came up with dentists outlining surprising foods that cause decay.
Mark Burhenne on www.askthedentist.com listed five:
The number one most cavity causing cariogenic food is (drum roll) saltine crackers. “This stuff is worse than candy,” he wrote. Saltine crackers are nothing but starch that converts to sugar almost immediately.
Number two is goldfish crackers, which stick to teeth long after snack time.
Number three is diet colas. The acid wears away enamel over time, he said. Limit soda, and when you do have one, rinse with water immediately to wash away acid and minimize effect.
Number four is Red Bull and other energy and sports drinks, like Gatorade. A study published in General Dentistry tested acid levels in these beverages and found that it only took five days to show decay. Energy drinks caused twice the damage of sports drinks, he wrote.
Number five is dried fruits. “You’re better off with the actual fruit in its original form,” Burhenne wrote.
He recommends, instead, snacks such as almonds, baby carrots, apple wedges with almond butter, cheese squares and squares of dark chocolate, especially for little kids.
The beginning of a new year is a natural time to think about a new start and make commitments to improve our life. Studies show that about half of Americans make New Year’s resolutions, with the most popular addressing fitness, exercise, weight loss, and physical improvements. We don’t think about our teeth, do we?
And what about the direction of our spiritual life? We’re half-way through the first month of 2015, but it’s not too late to set some goals to grow healthier spiritually. Take a few minutes to reflect seriously on these questions:
What is one thing you could do this year to improve your walk with God?
What is the single most important thing you can do to improve the quality of your family time this year?
In which spiritual discipline do you want to make the most progress this year, and what will you do about it?
What is the single biggest time waster in your life, and what adjustment will you make to address it?
What is the most helpful way you could strengthen your church?
For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year?
What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?
What’s the most important way you will, by God’s grace, try to make this year different than last year?
What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in eternity?
In what new way will you show generosity and bless someone this year?
What new habit do you like most to establish this year?
What’s the most important need you feel burdened to meet this year?
Who is the person in your life that most needs your encouragement this year?
In what way could you be a blessing to your pastor this year?
How do you plan to guard your thought life and keep your mind pure in 2015?
How much Bible reading do you plan to do?
What is the biggest thing preventing you from growing deeper spiritually and what will you do about? (These questions adapted from Donald Whitney’s “Questions for a New Year.” See www.biblicalspirituality.org.).
[Dr. David L. Chancey is pastor, McDonough Road Baptist Church, Fayetteville, Ga. The church family meets at 352 McDonough Road, just past the department of drivers’ services office, and invites you to join them for Bible study at 9:45 a.m. and worship at 10:55 a.m. Visit them on the web at www.mcdonoughroad.org and “like” them on Facebook.]
