How often do you think about your teeth on a daily basis? Be honest! Aside from the time you spend brushing in the morning and at night, I’m sure your teeth and their well being aren’t constantly at the forefront of your mind. And that’s OK, we all have plenty on our plates to deal with.

Even though it’s impossible for us to be thinking about our teeth at all hours of the day, being consistently proactive about keeping your teeth healthy is still important.

This means putting in just a little more effort than brushing when we wake and before we get into bed. One way to actively maintain good oral health throughout the day is by improving your diet. The following healthy eating tips come from the American Dental Association and are easy, simple steps that we all can take to make sure our teeth stay strong and healthy.

- Limit the amount of snacking you do throughout the day, especially if you tend to snack on sugary food. Your teeth are prolonged to 20 minutes more exposure to acid every time you eat food containing sugar.

- When you do snack, try to go for nutritious foods like vegetables, plain yogurt, fruit and nuts.

- Eat Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner: Eating full meals is beneficial to your oral health because your mouth will produce more saliva during a meal. This will reduce the affects of acids and help wash food from the mouth.

I know it’s not much of a surprise that you should be feeding your teeth (and your body!) less sugar and more of the good stuff like fruits, vegetables and whole grains, but its easy to forget when tons of sugary snacks cross our path’s on a daily basis.

Balance is key, though. You don’t have to give up all of  the sweet stuff forever. Just remember to eat it in moderation, balance it out with good nutrition, and of course, be sure to schedule a yearly dental check-up!