Easter is a wonderful time of year. School holidays roll around and we have a long weekend. Often, family functions occur and lots of delicious food is consumed. This holiday season can be tough on your teeth. Sugar and acidic foods are really harmful to your teeth. This time of year can mean consuming a lot of these nasties!
Whether you celebrate Easter due to it’s religious significance, or just enjoy some time off with friends and family, this holiday can wreak havoc on your teeth. One thing is for sure across all faiths and backgrounds – and that’s sugar and treats at Easter time. Easter eggs, hot cross buns, lollies, big meals, the list goes on.
Almost all of the foods and drinks we enjoy over holidays are laden with sugar, acids and preservatives. Sugar reacts with your saliva and raises the acidity
within your mouth. This increased acidity eats away at your tooth enamel, causing holes and decay.
Is Sugar Harmful?
We know that sugar is not only bad for your teeth, it’s also bad for your overall health. Sugar interferes with your immune function. It also causes your blood glucose levels to spike and plummet. Sugar also significantly increases your risk of becoming overweight or obese. It can severely affect behavior and cognition in children.
At Easter time, it’s even more crucial to brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste. It’s impossible to clean between your teeth with a brush, so be sure to floss too.
Those who have braces or orthodontic appliances should be particularly careful when indulging in sweet treats. Particularly those containing caramel or toffees. Orthodontic appliances can be damaged or broken from hard or sticky items. These treats can become stuck and wedged between wires and appliances, amplifying the harmful decay-inducing effects.
It’s easy to get carried away among family functions or outings, but remember to be mindful of how many sugary items you are eating and drinking. For all the sugar you consume, your teeth are suffering as a result.
Public holidays mean businesses close! Be wary that if you have a problem with your teeth – such as a toothache or chipped filling or any other issue, please have it seen to before the Easter break. We are closed from Friday the 30th of March and reopen on Tuesday the 3rd of April.
If you’d like to learn more about the affects of sugar on your teeth, visit this helpful link: https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/conditions/cavities/what-are-the-effects-of-sugar-on-teeth-1214
Leave a Reply