Happy Easter, Healthy Teeth

Easter is coming-up and we all know what that inevitably means; chocolate! It’s a time to relax, see the family and indulge. It’s also a time where it’s easy to really let yourself go when it comes to eating your way through that large stack of chocolate eggs. It’s good to enjoy yourself over this period, but whilst doing so, it’s just as important to do what you can to take care of your family’s teeth.

The reason why this is especially important over the Easter period is that chocolate is high in sugar content. The eating of chocolate produces acid in the mouth and can lead to the creation of plaque as well as the possible staining of teeth. And, because it turns into liquid form in your mouth as you eat it, chocolate can bathe your teeth in sugar, giving the sugar more time to stay in contact with your teeth for longer and increasing the risk of damaging your teeth.

To point-out that you should be careful eating too much chocolate and sweet-things during Easter is fairly obvious. It can also be difficult to do this when you just want to enjoy yourself. However, there are some things you can do to make sure you’re doing what you can to boost your dental health while also letting yourself delight in all of that chocolatey goodness.

Plus, if you’re a parent, being aware of these tips might be especially helpful as your little ones might be particularly eager to tuck into their Easter treats. They may potentially get through a lot of chocolate, so using this time to guide them on the correct methods to look after their teeth is especially important.

Brushing: Brushing teeth is probably something most of us do on a regular basis- a minimum of two times a day, preferably. If you’re eating an unusually large quantity of sugary treats though such as chocolate eggs, you might want to think about brushing a little more regularly, such as after every meal. On the subject of brushing it’s a good idea to use an electric toothbrush if you don’t use one already. Electric toothbrushes offer a more thorough, consistent standard of cleaning that the human hand with a manual brush in its palm can’t quite provide. They can get to those hard to reach places inside your mouth as well.

Sugar Free Gum: Chewing sugar free gum is a great little tip for better dental health as it increases the production of saliva in your mouth, helping your teeth stay protected from the acids present in your mouth after you have eaten. This is useful for those times when you simply can’t get to your toothbrush. Sugar free gum comes in conveniently sized little packets that you can slip into your pocket, making them easy to keep with you no matter where you go. They also make good treats for your kids.

Mouthwash: It is generally recommended that using mouthwash should be part of everybody’s daily dental routine. And given that it is likely your teeth are going to be put to the test a little more than normal due to eating chocolate over Easter, it’s advisable that you use your mouthwash. Talk to your dentist about the best kinds of mouthwash available to you.

Flossing: Flossing is perhaps one of those everyday dental tips that is easily disregarded. Perhaps because it is relatively time-consuming and takes perhaps more effort to do properly than brushing your teeth. However, regularly flossing your teeth is great for removing any trapped food or detritus in-between your teeth. It’s not difficult to let flossing fall by the wayside, but over the Easter period it’s even more important that you do it. Use floss sticks or regular floss and keep your teeth at their best.

Water: Drinking water is another simple way to defend your teeth from the effects of consuming excessive amounts of chocolate and sugary treats. When you get yourself a glass of water, instead of just sipping it as you normally would, you should try to swill your mouth with it to dislodge any pieces of food stuck to your teeth and to neutralise the harmful elements contained within what you have just eaten. For your children, make sure they drink a glass of water after their chocolate treats to help reduce the chance of dental problems.

Other Foods: There are certain types of food such as cheese, fish and vegetables that are beneficial for your teeth. This is maybe something else to think about after you have munched a load of chocolate and are concerned about the effect that this may have had on your teeth. It might even be prudent to swap some chocolate for other treats, such as small cheese bites.

MSC - Midlands Smile Centres

Midlands Smile Centres are based at various points around the city of Birmingham, making them extremely easy to get to. MSC are staffed by a tremendously talented team of dentists who are able to use their knowledge and expertise derived from years of experience in dentistry to improve your teeth and give your smile the little lift that it needs. Providing an array of treatment types from orthodontics to smile makeover treatments such as tooth whitening and veneers, Midlands Smile Centres are also worth contacting if you find that you have indulged a little too much over the Easter break and need an MSC dentist to put things right.

Get in-touch with MSC today to discover what we can do for you!!