HOLIDAY SWEETS

 

The American Dental Association reports that it is not the amount of sweets consumed that creates the dental problems but the type of candies or sweets. Candy that stick to your teeth like gummy bears tends to be more harmful than a chocolate bar that will be washed away.

The minute we take a bite of something containing lots of sugar, the plaque begins to produce acids. This process robs the tooth of minerals and thus causes decay. The other foods we eat provide the tooth with phosphates and calcium needed to heal the teeth.

The report suggests that you eat all your sweets at one sitting or after meals to have the least effect.

Remember, whether you eat your sweets as dessert or choose to eat them at some other time of the day, remember to brush your teeth afterwards. If you cant brush your teeth, chew sugarless gum for a few minutes to stimulate the saliva that will help wash away the decay-causing acids from the teeth.

The ADA recommends brushing teeth with an ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste twice a day, cleaning between teeth once a day and visiting the dentist regularly.