A Tooth Friendly Easter 2021
It’s nearly April and that means that the season of chocolate eggs is upon us. From a dental perspective, that means another festive season that consists of many sugary treats for both children and adults alike. Looks like this Easter will be a somewhat normal one. Easter is slowly creeping up on us by flooding our supermarkets with chocolate eggs that are so irresistible. The temptation can often be quite hard to resist to eat your weight in chocolate especially through this festive season.
We understand that you will want to treat yourself especially considering the year we are having so far, however, we do not recommend that while you are indulging in the amazing chocolate, you don’t compromise your oral health over this Easter period. The professionals at The Neem Tree have put together some of their top tips to make sure you are able to enjoy this Easter without your teeth having to suffer.
1. Sticking to routine
The most important piece of advice we can give you is to stick to your routine throughout any holiday season. Your routine should consist of brushing your teeth twice a day for two minutes each time. You should also floss daily. Sticking to this routine, especially through Easter, will help your teeth stay healthy and cavity free even if you are indulging in a little bit of chocolate.
We recommend that you should brush your teeth once in the morning and one more time right before you get to bed, again, remember to do this for two minutes each time. It is important to note that you should wait at least an hour after eating to brush your teeth in order to reduce any possible acid erosion from occurring.
2. Treat o’clock
Sometimes it’s not about how much sugary treats you are consuming but more about how often… We recommend keeping your consumption of chocolate to once per day (Your Treat O’clock). We recommend that the best time to do this is at mealtimes rather than between meals. This is because a mouth that is already producing saliva will do a better job at fighting off the acid attack. The saliva helps to neutralise the acids and repair the early effects of tooth decay.
After eating chocolate it would be a great idea to chew sugar-free gum or give the little ones a glass or water or milk. This will help remove any sugary debris from around the teeth.
3. Try some alternatives
Do you know how much sugar is in those big Easter eggs at your local supermarket? Some Easter eggs can contain up to 10 times the recommended daily amount of sugar (for an adult
Here are a few better alternatives than treating yourself and the little ones with huge chocolate eggs.
- Homemade treats:
With homemade baked goods, you are able to control the amount of sugar that you will be consuming. You will also be able to use sugar substitutes that are less harmful for your teeth. - Chocolate bars with nuts:
Nuts help break up all the sugar in the chocolate. Chocolate bars are also a great size for your daily sugar intake. - Dark chocolate:
Dark chocolate is the best type of chocolate that you can have for your teeth as it contains significantly less sugar than milk chocolate. There are also sugar free chocolate options available in many supermarkets if you would like to opt for that instead.
4. Try celebrate Easter without all the chocolate
Easter doesn’t have to be all about the chocolate. Celebrating Easter with a few mini eggs may be enough to tide both you and the kids over but what you can do instead of celebrating with a lot of chocolate. Why not treat your kids to a treasure hunt around your home and garden? Using maps and clues around the house with small chocolate gifts as well as non-chocolate presents around the treasure hunt is a great way to celebrate Easter with the little ones and to ensure they have just as much fun!
5. Book an appointment after Easter
Indulging in a little chocolate this Easter isn’t the end of the world, but your teeth will forgive you if you book a dental check-up or a hygienist appointment for after the celebration. Visiting your dentist will allow your dentist to spot any potential early symptoms or decay. If you are worried about your teeth not being as clean as you’d like, having a hygienist appointment is a great way to really clean your teeth and a great way to combat any tooth decay from occurring.
If you need to book an appointment or would like more advice on the best ways to look after your teeth over Easter contact us today.