October… it’s the month your diet seems to take a nosedive. It starts when the kids carry in their Halloween sack of loot (All those tasty little candy bars!) that you can’t quite stay out of. Then comes Thanksgiving and all the preparation and cooking (your guests just love your pies and cakes!) and the sweets keep rolling in until the zenith that are the winter holidays. (Christmas cakes and taffies, Hanukkah cookies, Kwanzaa sweet potato candies – oh my!)
Sweets Affect More Than Your Middle
Sugar can have devastating effects on your diet, but it isn’t good for your oral health either. Here are a few tips to get your smile safely through the holiday season sugar-fest.
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Eat only at meal times. Why? For about 20 minutes after you drink or eat anything, especially sugary foods and candies, your mouth is under attack. If you tend to eat and snack throughout the day, your teeth will be exposed to harm for much longer than they should be! Try to do all your eating at once and try to choose treats that aren’t sticky or chewy.
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Brush your teeth after you eat. If you can’t brush after eating something sweet, swish some water in your mouth. Even drinking a glass of water can help rinse sugars off your teeth.
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If you are eating acidic foods, disregard the above advice. Brushing after highly acidic foods or drinks can actually cause more damage to the enamel. Rinse your mouth with water and wait an hour before brushing.
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If you are going to drink a lot of red wine and coffee over the holiday season, keep in mind that these are very staining. Consider scheduling a post holiday whitening and cleaning to get your teeth back in shape after all the indulgence.
Whatever your plans are this holiday, remember to celebrate your smile by taking good care of it! For more information about keeping your smile healthy and bright, or to schedule a post sugar-fest cleaning, call Dr. Todd Davis, your Buckhead Dentist.