It’s that time of year when we watch our favourite scary movies, practice our pumpkin-carving skills, and don our creepiest costumes to go trick or treating!
But with all those sugary snacks, how do we stop our mouths from becoming a real-life horror show?
First of all, let’s talk about why lollies are bad for our teeth
Well, we’re not the only ones who love sugar. The bacteria in our mouths also likes to feast on the sugar in the sweet treats we’ve eaten, and as it does this it produces acid. This acid attacks and weakens our tooth enamel, which can eventually lead to decay.
What Are The Worst Halloween Treats For Our Teeth?
The Worst a.k.a. Zombie Apocalypse
Sugary foods that are sticky such as toffee or chewy caramel are very bad for our teeth. They hang around for a long time and are hard to remove, just like those horror movie villains!
Second Worst a.k.a. The Wicked Witch Of The West
When sugar stays in our mouth for a long time, so does acid, so next on the list are hard lollies that dissolve slowly, like gobstoppers or lollipops.
Bad a.k.a. Professor Snape
Sour lollies are acidic as well as sugary, increasing the acid exposure of our tooth enamel even more. Scary stuff!
Not So Bad a.k.a. Casper The Friendly Ghost
Chocolate is easier to remove from the teeth (as long as it doesn’t have any sticky fillings) so it doesn’t tend to hang around for too long.
The Best a.k.a. Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Sugar-free gum with xylitol is great for our teeth! Chewing this after munching on sugary snacks can help to protect them from decay. Phew!
What Else Can We Do To Prevent Tooth Decay?
Eat Sugar Less Often
The more regularly we eat sugary foods, the less time there is for our teeth to recover between acid attacks, making decay much more likely. So it’s best not to snack on sugary treats often throughout the day. The safest time to eat sugar is right after lunch or dinner, when our saliva flow is highest, as this will help to buffer the effects of the acid a little. If you go trick or treating this year, save your stash until after dinner. And remember to eat a balanced diet with lots of fresh fruit and veggies to keep your whole body healthy!
Keep Those Fangs Clean
When you do eat sugar, don’t let it hang around! Rinsing your mouth or drinking plain still water after eating sweet foods will help to remove the residue from the surfaces of our teeth.
Make sure to brush twice each day for two minutes, with a fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride is proven to help protect teeth against decay by strengthening our enamel! Flossing at least once every day will help remove all that sticky stuff from those tight spaces our toothbrush can’t reach.
Finally, Regular Visits To Your Dentist
It’s normally recommended to see your dentist twice a year for a professional clean, and to make sure there are no nasties lurking in there.
Why not give us a call today on (02) 9557 7775 or click here to book online.
Sources:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/delivering-better-oral-health-an-evidence-based-toolkit-for-prevention
https://www.teeth.org.au/three-tips-to-prevent-tooth-decay
https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/299700550177604626/?d=t