Sweets can be irresistible. We can easily succumb to scoops of ice cream, indulging in chocolates or falling for delectable cookies.
There’s a simple recipe that will help maintain your healthy smile. The key ingredient is limiting the time sugary confections interact with your teeth. Sugar feeds bacteria that create erosive acids on your enamel, leading to tooth decay.
So how can you have a dazzling smile and eat your cake, too? Here are some morsels of advice:
• Make smart sweet choices. Avoid hard candies that take a long time to dissolve or sticky candies that can cling to your teeth. Extended time in your mouth increases tooth decay risk. Even sugar-free candies can produce high levels of acids that may damage your teeth.
• Rinse your mouth with water. Water dilutes the acid that bacteria produce in your mouth after eating sweets.
• Don’t end your meal with sweets. After finishing your meal, drink a cup of water and brush your teeth to deter yourself from reaching for dessert.
Always return to the basics of good oral hygiene. Floss your teeth to remove harmful bacteria between your teeth, brush twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste and visit a dentist regularly to maintain a strong, cavity-free smile!
HAWAII DENTAL SERVICE (nonprofit)
Kahala Howser, Wellness & Events Manager
808-529-9391
Kahala.Howser@hawaiidentalservice.com
HawaiiDentalService.com
