When There is Bad News There is Good News
Do you want the good news or the bad news first? The bad news is that without proper care and attention, the sugar from sweets can lead to cavities. That’s not promising since we’re closing in on the holiday season. Sweets may tempt us from every direction, but we can fall back on some pretty good news: you don’t have to give up your favorite treats in order to avoid cavities. As long as you’re strategic in taking care of your teeth, you can substantially decrease your risk of tooth decay. Our team loves sweets, so this comes as a blessing. We have some tips and tricks for you to survive the approaching holiday season.
Cheese, Please!
A cavity forms because the sugar on our teeth attract bacteria. The bacteria feed on the sugar creating what we know as plaque on our teeth. This process allows acids to form that enjoy snacking on your enamel. We are now on our way to tooth decay.
When we acknowledge this process, we can take steps to ease sugar’s dastardly plans. Eating cheese right after consuming sweets can work to restore depleted minerals in your teeth that are affected by the harmful acids. You really can’t go wrong by your teeth with cheese.
Rinse & Chew Sugar-Free Gum
After consuming sweets, you may have an itch to rush into the bathroom for a good tooth brushing. We recommend waiting about 30 minutes before brushing your teeth because the bristles can erode the acid-damaged enamel away even quicker. Give your mouth time to bring acidic levels in your mouth back to normal.
In the meantime, you can rinse your mouth, which helps remove particles from your teeth and brings the acidic levels back to normal. Saliva production can have a similar effect in kicking cavities to the curb. Chewing sugar-free gum will increase the saliva in your mouth. Piece of gum, anyone?
Don’t Eat Sweets Throughout the Day
If you can reduce the times you reach for a sugar-filled treat, the better off your teeth will be. For example, drinking sugary beverages throughout the day is more damaging than eating a piece of cake in one sitting. When you stop eating sweets, your teeth get a chance to bring acid levels back to normal, which takes about 20 to 30 minutes. Constantly bombarding your teeth with sugar is like asking your teeth to pursue a career as a gladiator. We can assure you that your teeth do not want to wage war with sugar. If you decide to eat sugar, try to keep sessions spaced out as much as possible so your teeth have room to breathe.
Replace Your Brush
Toothbrushes that are too old have frayed bristles. As a result, your pearly whites will not get as clean as they could be. Be sure to swap your brush or brush head every 3 months at the very latest. You should also tell your brush to hit the highway when you notice those hard-working bristles flattening. There is only room for fresh, perky bristles in your mouth when it comes to preventing cavities.
Routine Care
Hear us out. We have more bad news. The tips above can only get you so far in avoiding cavities. Likewise, the good news is that consistent care for your teeth is an unmatched defense for preventing cavities. This means brushing twice a day for two minutes each round and flossing at least once a day. It’s not a bad idea to use a non-alcohol mouth rinse to compliment your routine as well. Of course, we want to see you regularly for your hygiene appointments too. Putting all these strategies into practice will help keep your teeth smiling free of tooth decay.
If you aren’t already on our schedule, you can reach out to us here. We want you to be fully prepared to enjoy a variety of sweets with your friends and family this holiday season.
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