Easter is one celebration where eating chocolate and other candies is an expected part of the tradition. However, eating anything sweet can increase the risk of cavities, but by taking the proper precautions, you and your family can indulge without harming your dental health in Oshawa too much. Below are some easy tips to protect your pearly whites while still enjoying Easter celebrations.
Stick to Chocolate
If you are a chocoholic, there is some good news: this is one of the better sweet treats to eat than sticky candy or anything gummy. When you eat sticky candies, they hang around for longer and can be difficult to remove, even when you brush and floss. In comparison, chocolate melts relatively quickly and is washed away by saliva more easily. Eating dark chocolate with a higher cocoa content is even better as it will contain less sugar.
Don’t Graze
Leaving bowls of mini eggs or caramels around the place might look welcoming for visitors, but it isn’t good for your waistline and your teeth. Have your chocolate fix, then back away from the sweet stuff. After eating something sweet, pH levels in your mouth decrease as it becomes more acidic. It remains more acidic for at least half an hour afterwards, and the acids can weaken tooth enamel, putting you more at risk of cavities in your teeth. Snacking frequently on sugary items increases the length of time teeth are exposed to acids.
Rinse with Water
Brushing immediately after eating anything sweet or acidic isn’t the best approach since your tooth enamel is softer and more easily damaged by your toothbrush. Wait at least half an hour until acidity levels have begun to normalize. Instead, rinse your mouth with plain water to help reduce acidity levels more quickly and rinse away loose food particles. This is a good practice to get into after eating, not just during Easter.
Keep Up with Your Oral Care Routine
During holidays or other celebrations, it is easy to get out of the routine of brushing and flossing regularly. It is important to keep up with your normal oral care routine, and if you are going to be away from home for a while, pack a travel toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste, and a small container of dental floss so you can freshen up wherever you are and no matter the time or place.
Stay Hydrated
Staying hydrated is important, as a drier mouth encourages bacterial growth, so your risk of cavities is higher. Many people have xerostomia in Whitby, where they have a dry mouth, perhaps because of medications. Water is best to rehydrate, so ensure you and your family have plenty of fresh water readily available and purchase refillable water bottles for everyone.
Visit the Dentist
If you haven’t visited Margolian Dentistry for a while, Easter is the perfect time to schedule your family’s regular checkups and hygiene appointments in Ajax. While good daily dental care will go a long way toward preventing oral diseases, there is no substitute for regular dental visits.
Our dentist can check the condition of your teeth and gums, and if you have been indulging in the sweet stuff recently, we can soon pick on any early signs of tooth decay. The sooner we can detect dental problems and provide treatment, the greater the chance we can protect your dental health and prevent larger dental problems from developing. Sometimes a small lesion in tooth enamel can be hardened with a professional application of fluoride, or we can fill small cavities nearly invisibly with the latest tooth-coloured fillings. Regular dental cleanings are also a great way to prevent oral disease.