Easter Candy and Your Oral Health
Easter is just around the corner and this holiday rivals Halloween for being the top candy celebration. Americans typically spend $28.00 per person on Easter candy. That is a whopping 120 million pounds and $2.1 BILLION dollars worth of Easter candy every year!
There are ways to celebrate this fun holiday without overindulging on candy that causes oral problems for kids and adults alike.
Chocolate Easter Bunnies are Not What Causes Cavities
Sugar is not the culprit that causes cavities. What happens after you eat the sugar is where the problem lies. Plaque, a type of bacteria forms into a sticky layer on your teeth that has to be removed by daily brushing and flossing. If left to sit on your teeth, these bacteria feed on sugars and create acids that destroy tooth enamel, which can result in cavities.
Without treatment, cavities cause pain and possible tooth loss if ignored. Cavities aren’t an unavoidable fact of life after indulging in sweets; you can prevent cavities by putting a few safeguards in place.
Be Selective About the Easter Candy You Choose
Some candies are worse than others. What candies should you avoid?
- Sticky and Gummy Candy can be cavity causing culprits. They get stuck in the grooves of your teeth where it’s hard to brush properly which can be a major reason for tooth decay.
- Hard Candy such as jawbreakers, lollipops, and jolly ranchers are some of the worst candies for your teeth because it takes a long time for them to dissolve. The longer the candy is in your mouth, the longer your teeth are “bathed” in sugar.
- Tart Candy like Sour Patch Kids, sour Skittles and Lemon Heads are highly acidic. The constant exposure to acids found in this type of candy causes enamel erosion.
Better Candy Choices
- Sugar-free suckers and hard candies that don’t contain sugar don’t feed cavity-causing bacteria. These types of candies also boost saliva production and help prevent dry mouth, which contributes to creating cavities.
- Dark chocolate is good for your teeth. Cocoa beans contain tannins, polyphenols and flavonoids, all strong antioxidants that benefit your mouth and teeth.
What to Do When You Have an Easter Basket Filled with Candy
- Grazing on candy all day long is hard on your teeth.
- Select a time when candy can be eaten, and then put it away. This goes for you and your children.
- 20 minutes after eating, saliva begins to neutralize the acids that form from the bacteria in your mouth. Frequent munching, results in tooth enamel being exposed to cavity-causing acids round the clock.
- Rinse Your Mouth After Eating
- Although it’s tempting to brush right after eating, immediately brushing can do more harm than good. Tooth enamel is softer while under attack from the acids in your mouth after eating, so wait 30-60 minutes to give your enamel a chance to harden. The Mayo Clinic recommends rinsing your mouth with water after eating anything that is sweet or acidic.
Who Says an Easter Basket Has to Have Candy?
There are plenty of non-candy treats to buy for an Easter basket.
- Art supplies: construction paper, stickers, paints, and markers.
- Books, puzzles, and games.
- Kites, bubbles, or a jump rope.
Good Oral Hygiene is a Year-round Practice!
- Easter treats equals extra vigilance with good oral hygiene.
- Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush.
- Floss daily.
- A thorough examination and professional cleaning twice a year with Dr. Angela S. Evanson, DDS ensures that your Easter indulgence doesn’t lead to any long-term problems.
Please contact Dr. Evanson online or call (720) 409-0008 to make an appointment today.
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