EVERYONE KNOWS that snack time is one of the best times of the day! Getting a tasty treat in the middle of the workday or grabbing a snack after school can be just the pick-me-up you need to tackle the rest of your day with a smile.

But before you reach for the chips or chocolates, we have a few smile-friendly suggestions! Today we want to share our team’s favorite snacks that protect your teeth and benefit your smile.

Our Smile-Friendly Snack Picks

From Caitlin:

My go to snack when I'm hungry and don't have a lot of time, is to just cut an avocado in half, sprinkle a little salt and a squeeze of lime in each half, and mash it up! I know that it sounds boring but it's actually really delicious, and healthy!

From Dr. Carissa Bruening:
Mixed Nuts & La Croix Sparkling Water

From Amanda:
Peanut Butter and Apple Slices!

In addition to trying out our favorite snacks, keep these tips in mind when planning snacks that benefit your oral health:

Eat More Of These

Leafy Greens: Dark, leafy greens like kale, spinach, and collard greens have calcium, Vitamin A, Vitamin B2, and magnesium; all essential for healthy teeth and gums.
Cheese, Milk, and Yogurt: Dairy is a delicious source of calcium, which supports strong bones and teeth.
Kiwi, Oranges, And Other Vitamin-C-Rich Foods: Vitamin C boosts your body’s ability to fight infection that causes gum disease.

Eat Less Of These

Soda And Energy Drinks: These acidic, sugary drinks attack and gradually deteriorate your protective tooth enamel.
Sticky Candy, Gummies, And Dried Fruit: These foods stick in your teeth and continue to bathe your teeth in sugar for hours after eating.
Highly Processed Carbs: This includes crackers, white bread, and pastries, which feed decay-causing bacteria in your mouth.

Keep In Touch To Learn More!

Now that we’ve shared our favorite healthy snacks, we want to hear from YOU! If you have any healthy recipes you make make at home, share them in the comments below or on our Facebook page! We’d love to see what kinds of creative snack ideas you’ve come up with.

Thank you for CHEW-sing our practice!

Dr. Andrew Bruening & Dr. Carissa Bruening are
 General & Family Dentists located in Chesterfield, Missouri.

636-532-3311 | admin@chdental.net

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WE WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE an important figure in all of our lives—our mothers!

We’re grateful for all of the time, attention, and care our mothers provide for us throughout our upbringing and beyond. The positive impact they have is immeasurable and we want to express what they mean to us this Mother’s Day.

What We Love About Our Moms

Dr. Andrew Bruening (Dentist):

Dr. Bruening, what do you love most about your mom?

Dr. Andrew Bruening: I love how my mom is always there for me. I can always count on her to answer a call or show up on short notice. She understands me more than anyone (obviously, because she is my mom). Also, she knows I'm not one for writing a bunch so if she sees this she will appreciate it. As a bonus, my favorite memory is how instead of writing a long heartfelt message in my high high school senior yearbook, her words of encouragement/advise were "do it". I still hear it in her impersonation of Ben Stiller's character, Starsky, from the movie Starsky and Hutch.  

Dr. Carissa Bruening (Dentist):

Dr. Bruening, what do you love most about your mom?

Dr. Carissa Bruening: What I love most about my mom is how hard-working she was (and continues to be) as I was growing up.  I didn’t appreciate it at the time but now that I have begun my career and will begin to start a family, I am amazed at all Mom has accomplished through the years.  She taught, she coached, she drove team school buses, she worked lunch duty, after-school duty, etc. She would leave by 5am each morning and get home around 8pm, after practices and lesson plans were set up for the next day. Alongside her busy career, she did work around the house, in the yard, refereed three kids and even managed to exercise! The woman did it all!  Mom worked hard during the 9-month school year so she could spend those three months of summer being a full-time Mommy for my two sisters and me, taking us to tennis lessons, Jr. Golf tournaments, AAU track practice, swim team practice, basketball camp, volleyball camp, pole-vault camp and everything else we were involved in!  Thank you, Mom for being such an inspiration.  I hope and pray that someday I will be half the Mom that you are for Brianne, Kaitlyn and me. We love you. 

Amanda Keeven (Dental Hygienist):

Amanda, what do you love most about your mom?

Amanda: Darn, that is a hard one because I love everything about her! She's my best friend... and I love that no matter what happens, I can always count on her to be there for me.

Lisa Schatz (Dental Assistant):

Lisa, what is one of your favorite memories with your mom?

Lisa: My favorite memory with my mom was her walking me down the aisle when I got married. Growing up without a dad, it was very special to have my mom walk me down because she's always been there for me no matter what.

Megan Russell (Dental Assistant):

Megan, what is one of your favorite memories with your mom?

Megan: When I was in high-school we went to Branson three summers in a row and went shopping at the outlets and went to Silver Dollar City and the Dixie Stampede. The year I got my permit, she let me drive all the way down there. I thought she was going to have a heart attack the whole way. 

From The Mothers On Our Team… What Do You Love Most About Being A Mom? 

From Caitlin, a Rookie Mom: What I love the MOST about being a momma, is that no-one in the world can replace you to your child. When they are sick, tired, or just plain grumpy, YOU are the one they want. I find it to be true with my 1 year old and I STILL find it to be true about myself with my mom. Your mom is the one you go to with everything, and she always loves you just as you are. Moms are truly irreplaceable, and I cannot imagine my life without my amazing mom!

From Chris, a Veteran Mom: 

Chris, do you have any advice for new moms?

Chris: Enjoy every minute when your kids are little, they grow up so fast. As they grow; love them, laugh with them, and listen to them. Pick your battles, but stick to your guns. Be the parent first and the friend second. When they are older, they will appreciate it.

Mothers, We Appreciate You!

Whether your mom lives near or far, show her how grateful you are for her this Mother’s Day. To all you moms out there, THANK YOU!

Have any great stories about your awesome mom or an amazing motherly figure in your life? Post it in the comments below or on our Facebook page!

Happy Mother’s Day!