It’s October! Leaves are falling, pumpkins are popping and Halloween is just around the corner. You know what that means…CANDY. Here at Three Rivers Dental, we’re here to help keep your teeth happy and healthy, even if some candy is enjoyed. While we can help with a cleaning or follow up dental care after sugar has affected oral health, we’d rather provide some preventative maintenance tips for enjoying sweets while keeping teeth safe.
Knowledge is Power
Know which sweet treats are capable of doing the most mouth damage. Some tricky sugars will stick to teeth, becoming a serious pain to remove. The longer sugar sits on teeth, the more it erodes enamel. Sticky, tacky, gummy, and even hard candies can do the most damage. Hard candies can be particularly treacherous because they’re often in the mouth longer. Sucking on a lollipop or jawbreaker gives sugar time to spread throughout the mouth and sit on teeth. Sour candies also pose a problem. The acidity weakens and erodes enamel, making teeth more susceptible to cavities.
Tips & Tricks
Avoiding sugar isn’t easy. Make sure to rinse and drink water often. It does more than hydrate. Water keeps the mouth cleaner, washing away leftover food particles and sugar while diluting acid produced by the bacteria in the mouth. Water also fights dry mouth, allowing saliva to help keep the mouth clean. Drinking water supplemented with fluoride can strengthen teeth while chewing sugar-free gum induces saliva production to help fight acidity.
Back to Basics
All the tips and tricks in the world won’t replace the basics: brushing and flossing twice a day. When sugar is consumed more than usual, daily dental care routines can combat the candy. Always enjoy treats in moderation and keep up with brushing and flossing to avoid the tricks sugar can pull on your teeth.
Too much sugar on teeth can increase the risk of weakened enamel and cavities. We’re here to help. Schedule an appointment today and we’ll treat your teeth with the dental care you deserve.