Protect your teeth from Easter treats
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As children look forward to eating chocolate eggs this Easter, dentists are advising it’s not just how much of the delicious treats we eat but when we eat them that can damage their teeth.
With some minor changes in snack times dentists are advising how we can best enjoy Easter Egg hunts and how this could avoid the risk of a post-Covid dental crisis.
Portman Dental Care is suggesting four simple tips to reduce the impact of chocolate on children’s teeth, while still enjoying the much-needed treats.
Portman Dental Care director Catherine Tannahill explained the reason behind the advice.
She said: “It’s worrying that so many people have missed a regular appointment due to Covid-19, and we know that many of these will be currently suffering from problems with their teeth, possibly unknowingly.
“We’re already facing a potential dental crisis in the months and years to come, so it’s vital everyone prioritises their teeth, particularly when eating sugary food.
“Easter is a time when families enjoy time giving each other chocolate eggs and having fun with Easter Egg Hunts, and we don’t want to stop this, but there’s a delicate balancing act between what we consume and when we consume it.
“Every time we eat sugar our mouths are subjected to an acid attack as sugar is converted to acid by plaque bacteria, and the higher the levels of sugar in the food, the more the impact from the attack – a traditional Easter Egg (236 grams) has 132g of sugar compared to 35g in a 330ml can of Coca Cola.
“The ‘attacks’ last about 20-30 minutes after we’ve eaten and most people who brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste can cope with up to five of these a day; but often Easter weekend treats can lead to more than double the number of daily dental acid attacks as families consume treats throughout the four-day weekend.
“This is when teeth can suffer damage, as each acid attack potentially causes decay in our teeth.
“Our teeth can recover in between the attacks, but if they are too frequent, there is no chance to recover, and the balance tips towards creating cavities.
"Minimising the frequency of sugary treats and hence the frequency of these acid attacks can reduce the risk.
“For children their adult teeth need to last for potentially 60-70 years, so the more protection and care they give them, the longer they will last and the fewer long-term problems they will suffer from; reducing the need for complex dental care.
“We don’t want to stop people enjoying treats and chocolate eggs this Easter, particularly given the experiences people have endured during the last year.
“The advice we’re providing this Easter is simply to help educate people on what happens when they eat sugary food, so they can take care of their teeth.”
The four key pieces of advice that really help reduce the impact on our teeth are:
- Consider an alternative to a chocolate egg as a treat – a cuddly bunny or an egg-shaped puzzle
- Brush last thing at night and on one other occasion with a fluoride toothpaste
- Eat Easter treats as part of a meal – frequent snacking on sugary treats can be damaging
- Don’t eat sugary food for at least an hour before bedtime
Continuing Catherine said: “Many people are unaware that if we eat food less than an hour before we go to bed, even brushing our teeth won’t reduce the acid attack on our teeth.
“This is because part of the natural fight against these attacks is our own saliva, as this helps to restore the natural PH levels in our mouths.
“But, when we sleep the amount of saliva flow in our mouths slows down significantly, meaning longer acid attacks and potentially greater decay to our teeth.
“We know many people have had to wait a long time between regular visits to the dentist, indeed many are still waiting for a check-up, which is why we should all be taking extra care of our teeth.
“While our practices were able to safely open at the earliest opportunity and have caught up with patients missed during the pandemic, we know that some patients are still waiting to see dentists.
“Avoiding a post-Covid dental crisis is something that needs people to take that little bit extra care of their teeth.
“This doesn’t mean we miss out on some Easter fun and enjoy chocolate; it just needs to be done in a way that ensures the long-term health of our teeth is protected.”
