Yen

I'm awaiting a dental implant next month (titanium vs. zirconium, still debating that) to replace an old root-canaled tooth that led to infection to the bone. But wait, there's more: I also have almost a dozen (!!!) crowns and a few remaining old root canals. I'm 60 and this is my first implant, and I'm determined to make it my last. Thanks to religious use of my Water-pik, and careful flossing and brushing, in the past several years I've had much fewer problems and almost never any new decay. However, I am making certain dietary changes to prevent this from ever happening again. I've given up 99% grains and sugar, coffee and reduced overall phytic-acid intake to almost nothing... also beefed up my intake of important minerals, the very important fat-soluble vitamins (grass-fed butter! pastured eggs! whole-fat milk, liver), homemade bone broths, etc.

Anyway..... I'm seeking ideas for nutritious and effective tooth/gum-friendly snacks to eat on longer rides, that won't stick to my gums and are easy to rinse out with water. That leaves out raisins, Lara bars, Gu, Cliff bars, and any other sticky/gummy foods. A few that come to mind:
- Apple wedges
- Soft nuts (walnuts)
- Good well-fermented sourdough bread with smooth natural (sugarless) peanut butter and maybe a spread of coconut oil.

I do not eat "sugar-free" foods (i.e. foods with sugar substitutes) so that option is out. I would love to see some other ideas. Thank you!

Carbonfiberboy 

Drinking Cytomax on rides for about 10 years cost me $10,000 in dental bills. I switched to HEED, of which a major ingredient is xylitol. Problem solved.

rubiksoval

Holy crap. I have no advice. I always have one bottle with just water and always drink from that straight after a sip of powerade and swish it around.

Don't know if that helps much, but I hope so. I should probably start brushing after each ride...

rumrunn6

bananas, fig newtons, yogurt covered raisins, cheese sticks, yogurt, apple sauce

Machka 

I was in the midst of a multi-stage root canal several years ago when I had to ride my century (100 miles) that month in order to keep up with the Century-A-Month challenge. I could not chew on that side and had been told to eat soup and soft food ... so what was I to do?

I did the century on cheese slices and bananas.

rumrunn6

btw I'm halfway thru a year long ordeal w a cracked tooth, extraction, implant & waiting for it to fuse w my jaw before getting the crown in April. I'm also a grinder and got a new "night" guard. I like it so much I wear it all the time except when I talk & eat. it's quite beneficial biking. I'm sure I grind not just at night. I mention it because it has helped deal with my missing #12