As people are busy spreading love with chocolate and candy for Valentines Day, they are likely to overlook their oral health. While sugar is fine in moderation, eating sugar-rich food or candy too often can wreak havoc on your dental health. Frequently eating candy or other sugary goods can lead to tooth decay. The bacteria in your mouth use sugar to stick to your teeth and produce acids, leading to loss of minerals from tooth enamel and tooth destruction.
Tips to take care of your dental health:
- Try dark chocolate on for size. Milk chocolate and lighter varieties of chocolate generally have higher amounts of sugar and milk, whereas dark chocolate has less sugar per serving.
- Avoid or limit hard candies that take a long time to dissolve. Eating lingering candies exposes the teeth to sugar for long periods of time and allows bacterial acids to dissolve tooth structure.
- Limit consumption of candy or sweets to just a few times per day, rather than snacking throughout the day. Frequent consumption does not allow saliva to neutralize the acids produced by plaque bacteria.
It is important to practice good oral hygiene throughout the year and to take the necessary steps to protect your teeth and mouth. In addition to sensible snacking and good home care, make sure to schedule regular dental checkups to prevent disease, catch problems early, and bring any questions to a dental professional.
Our non-profit dental clinic, Healthy Smiles Forever, is here in the building to assist you in keeping your mouth healthy. If you need any dental care, information or dental supplies we are happy to help. Please call us at 931-0484 or let the court nurse or front desk know to contact us to make an appointment