Candy canes and other sugary snacks are everywhere you look this time of year, and that’s not great news for your teeth. We at Dr. Eric Meyer’s Fullerton dental office want our patients to enjoy the holidays, but getting tooth decay or gum disease is no fun. Fortunately, most sources of tooth decay have a healthier alternative.
When food debris and sugary residue is stuck to our teeth, bacteria consume it and secrete acid as their waste product. The acid is what causes dissolution of enamel and other oral tissues. Bacteria can eat starches as well as simple sugars, but leaving easily-digested simple sugars on the teeth for a long time will give bacteria lots of time to eat and produce acid. Two of the most common sources of sugary residue are hard candies and sugary drinks. Both of them are consumed slowly and dry out the mouth, leaving it with less saliva to wash sugar away. Of course, if debris from a starchy food such as potatoes gets stuck between the teeth, it could be a source of tooth decay, too.
Alternating sips of sugary beverages with drinks of water is a good way of rinsing them and keeping up saliva levels. Another idea is to replace hard candy with sugar-free versions, which can also stimulate additional saliva production. Brushing and flossing soon after eating is the best defense against tooth decay, but in a situation where a person is snacking over a long period, they could also try removing some food by chewing sugar-free gum.
Eric M. Meyer, DDS, operates at 2720 North Harbor Blvd, Fullerton, California, 92835. To schedule an appointment, call 714-879-7943 or visit Fullerton Dental and fill out a contact sheet.
No comments:
Post a Comment