PUBLISHED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
December 21st 2013
Season’s Greetings to all our readers! It’s that wonderful time of year again where we all enjoying spending time with family and friends, and celebrating the holidays. And for most of us these festivities will include enjoying great food and drink- I know I’m certainly looking forward to my Christmas cake, mulled wine and Ferreo Rocher!
Inevitably the holiday period can be quite tough on your teeth. The extra treats- candies being passed around work or the homemade cookies given to you by your neighbor- are all additional times when your teeth are vulnerable to attack from dental decay.
From a dental health perspective, you might be surprised to know that it is less about how much you eat (the volume) and more about how often you eat (the frequency). It is much healthier to eat 3 balanced meals a day than have 7-10 snacks throughout the course of the day- even if you are actually eating the same amount and types of food.
The reason for this is that every time you eat anything that contains sugar, your teeth are under acid attack for up to one hour afterwards. The sugar in your food is broken down by the (normal, healthy) bacteria in your mouth and acid is produced. It is this acid that attacks the enamel of your teeth and over time causes tooth decay. Acidic foods and drinks (such as citrus fruits, diet soda, even lager) can be just as harmful to your teeth. And also remember that sugars can be present in foods even when it might not be so obvious; for example, fruit (fresh and dried), bread and many sauces.
So, how can you avoid these problems and yet still enjoy the Christmas treats?
It is advised that you enjoy your sweet treats at meal times rather than spread them out throughout the course of the day. And if your children are having candy, encourage them to eat it in one sitting rather than keep returning to the bag and having one every hour or so.
Brushing your teeth at the end of the day, just before you go to bed, is vital in ensuring that sugar and food debris is removed from the teeth. However, brushing teeth immediately after you have finished eating something acidic is not advised. Straight after you have eaten, the enamel is softened and if used at this point, the abrasive action of the brush and toothpaste will remove this layer of enamel. This erodes the teeth and makes them sensitive and vulnerable to decay. It is therefore advised that you wait 30- 60 mins after eating or drinking acidic foods before brushing your teeth. A simple mouth rinse with water immediately after can help to wash away the acid in the mouth.
These are just some easy and sensible steps to take to look after your teeth, whilst you can focus on have a wonderful holiday time. Merry Christmas everyone!
