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Start Your Day Off with a (Healthy) Smile!

Home » Start Your Day Off with a (Healthy) Smile!
  • Cassinelli, Shanker & Associates Orthodontics
  • December 9, 2020

If there’s one meal that can claim the title of “Sweetest Meal of the Day,” it’s almost certainly breakfast. Sugary cereals, syrup-covered waffles, oatmeal with honey, cinnamon toast (which is literally sugar poured on toast)—it’s hard to imagine another menu even coming close. But you’re trying to keep your diet as healthy as possible. What to do?

First, no need to deprive yourself of the occasional pastry or stack of pancakes. The real problem with breakfast isn’t so much sugar as it is added sugar.

  • Just a Spoonful of Sugar? What’s So Bad About That?

Nothing! Many healthy foods have natural sugars. Milk contains lactose sugar, and it also contains calcium and is enriched with vitamin D—both of which are essential for strong bones and teeth. Fruits get their sweetness from a sugar called fructose, and deliciously provide vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber to our diets.

Even processed sugar is surprisingly low in calories. In fact, a teaspoon of white sugar has only about 15 calories. But this teaspoon is also rich in nutrients for cavity-causing bacteria. The oral bacteria in plaque use sugars and carbohydrates from food particles as a fuel source to produce acids. These acids erode enamel and lead to cavities.

Choosing breakfast foods without additional sugars, then, is an easy way to reduce the number of empty calories in your diet while safeguarding the health of your teeth. We have a few suggestions.

  • Be Selective with Cereals

If the word “sugar” or “honey” or appears on the box, that’s a hint that your favorite cereal is heavy on the sugar. But there’s a more scientific way to tell just how much sugar is in that spoonful.

While the colorful packaging and playful mascots are eye-catching, check the black-and-white panel with nutritional facts found on every box. If one serving equals 27 grams, and the sugar in that serving equals 15 grams, you know you have a problem. And cereals marketed to children are especially “rich” in added sugar.

But luckily, you don’t need to give up your morning bowl. Many cold cereals are available that offer whole grains, protein, and fiber without a lot of added sugar. Spend some time in the cereal aisle comparing, or, to make life easier, there are many online sites which recommend the best (and worst) cereals in terms of sugar content.

  • Use Your Judgment with Juices

Fruits are packed with important nutrients. Not only do they provide essential vitamins and minerals, they’re a great source of water and fiber. If you drink 100% fruit juice, you are getting the benefit of most of the vitamins and minerals found in fruit. (You’re also getting less of the fruit’s natural fiber, and more of the fruit’s natural sugar, so consider fresh fruit as an option occasionally.)

But when fruit juice comes with “cocktail,” or “punch,” or “ade” attached to the end of it, there’s often something else attached—added sugar. For natural fruit flavor and the least amount of sugar, stay with 100% unsweetened fruit juice.

  • Search Out “Surprise” Sugars

Remember the childhood excitement of searching through your cereal box for the prize inside? Fun! What’s not so much fun? The surprises you might find when you search through the labels on your favorite breakfast items—because added sugars make their stealthy way into many of our morning favorites.

When you compare plain, Greek, and low-fat yogurts, for example, the low-fat options are often higher in added sugar. A container of low-fat yogurt can provide 19 grams of sugar—that’s a tablespoon and a half!

And while you’re at it, be sure to compare the sugar content in granola bars. Some are full of nuts and grains, and some are full of added sugar.

Going out for a breakfast smoothie? Those can contain 70 grams of sugar and more. Making your own at home might be a little more time-consuming, but if you use fresh fruit as your sweetener, you can make sure that what you’re not consuming is added sugar. If you’re on the go, check out all-fruit options at your favorite smoothie shop.

Drs. Cassinelli and Shanker and our team aren’t asking you to eliminate sugar from your breakfast diet altogether. (Everyone loves a doughnut now and again.) But substituting some alternatives for your regular menu choices can reduce the amount of added sugars by tablespoons every meal. That’s another great reason to greet the morning with a smile!

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patient REviews

Our 5-Star Patient Experience

We recognize that all our patients are unique and deserve to receive orthodontic care that reflects their individual needs. We are committed to working with you and your family to create a comfortable, stress-free, and rewarding orthodontic experience every time you visit.

Grace C.
Everyone in the office has been professional and Bev at the front desk is exceptional. I sat with my son during treatment thinking about how she is above and beyond wonderful. I am grateful for her attention to detail, consideration of my circumstances, communication across the team of personnel to make sure I had what I wanted and all of it infused with kindness.
Response from the owner:Your comments are so sweet. We are so glad that you've had a wonderful experience. We strive to provide excellent service and care to each of our patients!
Shanti H.
Just started the orthodontic procedure. The experience is excellent and the cost is reasonable
Response from the owner:Thank you. We are happy to be able to help you get the smile you want 😀
Sarah H.
This orthodontic team has been absolutely wonderful! Highly recommend for your orthodontic needs!
Response from the owner:Thank you, Sarah! We're thrilled to hear that you had a wonderful experience with our team. Your recommendation means a lot to us!
Triplets2010
All 3 of my children have gone here for a couple of years and they are amazing! Great customer service, top notch orthodontic care!
Response from the owner:Thank you for the 5-star review! We are so happy to hear you had a great experience with our staff and doctors. We love creating beautiful smiles!
Ashley P.
Very clean office. The staff was prepared for our visit, like having a new patient name board and plenty to do in the waiting room for littles. Staff was friendly and facility was very neat. We enjoyed our visit and didn't feel pressured to buy any treatment options.
Response from the owner:So glad you enjoyed your visit, and thank you for the wonderful review.
Jamie I.
Our daughter and son were patients several years ago. And now another daughter is a new patient with the office. We have had a great experience. Friendly and professional staff. Great communicators. Reasonably priced! Clean and warm environment. Highly recommend!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your review. It is our pleasure to provide excellent care for your family. We are so glad you chose our office again.
Valerie A.
My experience for my consultation was an experience that I’ve never had before. From the moment I arrived for my visit, until I was done, the staff was great and made me feel very comfortable. Thank you so much for such a wonderful experience!
Response from the owner:So happy to hear this. Thanks for the great review.
David B.
Friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. Office was immaculate. Great experience!
Response from the owner:Thanks. Appreciate the compliments!
Tasha F.
I wish I could give more than five stars! I truly enjoyed being a patient at Cassinelli, Shanker & Associates. Being able to go through this process with both of my sons made it even more special. The staff knew us by name and made us feel welcome at every appointment. I couldn’t recommend a better place to get braces 😁
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the great review! It has been our pleasure treating your family. We have the best doctors and staff and love what we do!
Slice S.
Adult Invisalign, a 16 month process, I’m so glad I did it! Organized, we’ll communicated process and my providers were all amazing!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the 5-star review! We love what we do. It has been our pleasure having you as our patient!
Christin M.
They are such a phenomenal practice with caring and attentive staff! The orthodontists are knowledgeable and kind! We have had such a positive experience working with them!
Response from the owner:Thank you for the 5-star review! We have 4 of the best orthodontists and an amazing team. We are so happy to hear you agree!
Elisa C.
My experience I had with this office was excellent. They went over and beyond to make sure my child was comfortable was OK nothing was hurting her. I will always recommend you take your child to this dentist office for any dental work done on your children.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words and 5-star review! We pride ourselves in offering the highest quality in patient care and customer satisfaction. It has been our please treating your daughter.
melissa D.
Super nice staff! I was in and out of there with all my questions answered. I get my Invisalign put in in two weeks and I am very excited.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much! We are so happy to join you on your journey to a new beautiful smile!
Crystal D.
We have been extremely happy with the level of care our daughter has received. Everyone in the office is friendly and knowledgeable. Our time in the office was quick and efficient. They estimated the length of her treatment plan to be 18 months and she finished a full six months early. We highly recommend Cassinelli and Shanker to anyone entering the orthodontics phase.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your feedback and excellent review! We love hearing you had a great experience. Your daughter was a star patient and it has been our pleasure treating her.
Kiersten G.
Friendly staff, easy experience. Went in for my 8 year old who is not losing baby teeth and has no room for any that can come in. Dr. set out a clear plan for the near future and things that may be farther out.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your 5-star review! We value patient relationships and are confident we have the best orthodontists in the city!
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