Eating Candy: The Do's
Now that Halloween has come and gone, many of us have a stash of chocolates and candies available to eat.
These snacks, although amazingly delicious, have high sugar contents, and in the mouth, sugar is one of the primary culprits involved in tooth decay, or dental cavities.
At MC2 Dental, we think the best dental treatment is no treatment required, and preventive care is the best way to accomplish that.
In addition to good toothbrushing and flossing, read on to find out what preventive options there are for what to do when we eat some candy.
Brush teeth with fluoride toothpaste and a dab of baking soda
Fluoride has time and time been shown to affect tooth remineralization, so using toothpaste with a fluoride content will give our teeth the minerals needed to stay strong and healthy. Adding baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) has two benefits for our oral health. The first benefit is that baking soda can help remove coffee and tea stains from our teeth. The second benefit is that it raises the pH of our saliva, which helps negates any acid from eating away our teeth.
As a bonus, some toothpastes contain both baking soda and fluoride in them. Look for toothpastes containing both sodium bicarbonate and sodium fluoride on the label.
Drink lots of water, and maybe add a pinch of xylitol sugar for flavouring.
For people who enjoy sugary drinks such as pop or sweet tea, water simply tastes too bland for them. Consider buying a bag of xylitol from a nearby store and using it to sweeten water. Xylitol is a natural sugar that actually prevents cavities from forming.
Instead of grabbing a can of pop or a cup of juice to sip on after snacking on that chocolate bar, drink the xylitol-sweetened water instead.
Eat more protein.
Protein does not cause cavities, and having more protein in our diets will ensure our saliva has a healthy protein composition which helps keep the bad bacteria in our mouths in check. Try enjoying snacks with high protein content, such as cheese and nuts, while eating candy.
Try out the tips mentioned as much as possible before your next dental visit, and always feel free to ask your dental professional any questions you may have.
The next time you go in for a dental checkup, you may just find out that there are fewer cavities in your mouth.