10 Apr Top 6 Tips from Preston Supreme Dental for a Smile-Friendly Easter
Easter holiday is upon us again in the Melbourne area and much of the world.
Treat-filled baskets, delicious family dinners, and Easter outfits have many of us awaiting this holiday.
And all those jelly beans, marshmallow Peeps (sometimes dipped in chocolate!), and chocolate eggs certainly do taste good and appear tempting.
But, when you add to the candy the snacks, drinks, and delicious cakes and bread that are served, you end up with a holiday that can be a catastrophe for your teeth, waistline, and overall health.
Easter Sunday, and the days surrounding can be tough on the enamel that protects your teeth.
That is why Preston Supreme Dental is here to offer you six oral health tips to practice on Easter Sunday and even year round!
What Is The Link Between Easter And Sugar?
Easter treats are stuffed with sugar. Health experts say that the average Australian woman should have 25 grams of sugar, while men should have 35 grams – no one should exceed 50 grams, in any case.
But take a look at what Easter candies offer:
- One serving of a chocolate covered Peep (28-grams) has 14 grams of sugar. If you eat one serving of small yellow peeps you get a whopping 34 grams of sugar – basically the entire recommended sugar for an adult man in a day! I
- Lindt Chocolate Bunny. First, the “serving’ size here is half a bunny! Which comes in at 25 grams of sugar. But you’ll probably eat the whole bunny, and have a shocking 50 grams of sugar.
- Cadbury Crème Eggs. 20 grams of sugar
Put it together, and the numbers can be staggering. One Cadbury Crème Egg, a chocolate Peep, and a chocolate bunny and you’re already at 84 grams of sugar. Add a fistful of jellybeans, and you’re at 100 grams.
Then factor in your Easter meals, and the desserts that come with them. Sodas? Thirty-three more grams – and don’t think most energy drinks are much better.
And if your child has an Easter basket, they can be doing this to themselves day after day.
So, to help protect you from this kind of sugar attack, Preston Supreme Dental offers six pieces of advice.
Six Pieces of Advice from Preston Supreme Dental
- Don’t let go of your daily routine. With all the sugar around on Easter Weekend, it is essential that you stick to your oral hygiene routine. The worst thing you or your children can do is forget about your teeth over the Good Friday to Easter Sunday period. You’re virtually guaranteed to be having more sugar, carbohydrates, and rich food, all of which can wreak havoc on your oral and general health. Brush twice a day and floss once.
- Avoid snacking. As in the example above, one Peep, a few jellybeans, a can of soda can add up to a massive infusion of sugar. And eating sugar throughout the day is worse for your teeth than having it with dinner. Grazing leads to the continual presence of sugar, which bacteria use to help create acid-filled plaque. This attacks tooth enamel and causes cavities. Eating candy with meals helps ensure that saliva and other foods limit sugar’s effects on your teeth.
- Wait to brush. It seems to make sense to brush your teeth directly after you enjoy your Easter candy, but this can do more harm than good. The acid in your mouth directly after eating sugar softens the enamel, and brushing just after eating can wear the enamel away. To minimise the contact of sugar and acids, it is a far better idea to rinse your mouth out with water after eating (candy or meals). Wait for a half-an-hour after eating to give your saliva time to neutralise the harmful acids.
- Avoid sticky or hard sweets. This is for at least two reasons. First, sticky candy can get stuck on and in between teeth, leaving the sugars more time to break your enamel down. The other problem with sticky or hard sweets is they can cause damage – we often have patients who have lost fillings, crowns, and other appliances because they enjoyed a sticky toffee or hard peppermint candy.
- Eat dark chocolate. Dark chocolate, ideally organic and with a sugar content of no more than 6-8 grams per serving, actually offers some health benefits! Dark chocolate contains flavonoids which studies show can slow tooth decay. Dark chocolate also contains antioxidants, which once in the saliva, can help fight gum disease.
- Regular check-ups and clean. Visit Preston Supreme Dental at least twice a year for a check-up and clean! A check-up and clean from a dentist is the easiest way to be sure you’re maintaining optimal oral health and heading potentially dangerous issues off.
The Preston Supreme Dental Team
Don’t let the Easter treats run the fun! At Preston Supreme Dental, we assure you of the quality dental care you need and deserve.
Visit your Preston dentist today!
Preston dentist is also serving local communities in Coburg, Northcote, Thornbury, Bundoora and Reservoir.
We are conveniently situated on Murray Road, between St Georges Rd and High St, with public transportation nearby!
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GAP FREE – General Check-up, Scale and Clean, X-rays and Fluoride treatment (with any health insurance)
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Call us on (03) 9478 7708 or book your appointment online. We are located at 243 Murray Road in Preston.