Liskeard dentists ask ‘who can resist chocolate and sweet treats at Easter?’
The Easter bunny is on his way laden with chocolate, sweets, hot cross buns and other sweet treats and at this time of the year it’s hard to resist.
But the Liskeard dentists and hygiene team at The Smile Centre in Cornwall remind us that sugar is not just bad for our waistlines. Instead of saying don’t eat anything sugary, they have provided some helpful facts and tips to help protect our teeth over the Easter festivities.
Facts
- It’s not how much sugar we eat, it’s how long it’s on our teeth that counts.
- Sugar + plaque germs = TOOTH DECAY.
- It takes our teeth at least 45 minutes to recover from every sugar attack.
Tips
- Keep sweet treats to mealtimes.
- Eat them up – don’t hoard! Having one or two chocolates throughout the day means our teeth are exposed to sugar more frequently. Of course, we don’t suggest eating them all in one go! Treat yourself after a meal and then give your teeth a long break to help them recover from an acid attack.
- Visit your dentist and hygienist regularly to check for decay and to make sure you are cleaning your teeth properly.
The dental team at The Smile Centre also advises patients from Cornwall and Plymouth to brush our teeth twice a day for a minimum of two minutes with fluoride toothpaste. We should brush our teeth before we go to bed and at one other time during the day.
When to start brushing
Our advice for children is start early! As soon as your baby’s first tooth appears introduce them to a toothbrush and toothpaste. Children up to three years old should use a toothpaste with a fluoride level of at least 1,000ppm (parts per million), after that we should all use toothpaste that contains 1,350ppm – 1,500ppm. Children should use a pea-sized amount on their toothbrush and babies just a smear.
Our teeth are precious
The best teeth we will ever have are our own, which is why we promote a preventive approach through regular examinations and hygiene treatments. Contact us to find out more.