Hunting for Easter eggs, coupled with eating copious amounts of Easter sweets, is a rite of passage for many children. In terms of dental health, however, not all of these holiday delights are made equal. Before you buy any Easter sweets for your children (or yourself), here are some recommendations from your holistic dentist in Miami on how to choose the healthiest option for their teeth.
Sugar-Free Sweets
High-sugar sweets might cause serious difficulties with your oral health. Sugar, in fact, promotes the bad bacteria that cause plaque, tooth decay and even gum disease. Sugar-free sweets are still tasty, but because they contain less sugar, they are less likely to stimulate the growth of harmful microorganisms. They can even assist combat cavities rather than cause them since they stimulate the salivary glands.
Chewy Sweets
Chewy sweets are one of the worst offenders when it comes to sugar and plaque accumulation. These sweets are more prone to stick to the teeth and can even get trapped between teeth or in other crevices, exposing the surfaces to sugar for a longer period of time. Gummy candies, jelly beans and taffy, as well as sweets with caramel or marshmallow, should all be avoided.
Hard Sweets
Hard sweets have a similar problem as chewy sweets that aren’t sugar-free. Because hard sweets take a long time to disintegrate, it exposes teeth to sugar for a long time. Furthermore, youngsters who eat hard sweets may have bits lodged between their teeth, exposing even more of the tooth surface to sugar. Biting down on a hard sweet can result in a broken tooth in the worst-case scenario.
Sour Sweets
Unless they are sugar-free, sour sweets can contain the same amount of sugar as the hard and chewy sweets outlined above. They also contain an acid that gives them their sour flavor. Acid can erode tooth enamel, making your child’s teeth more vulnerable to long-term damage and decay.
Sweets are frequently associated with Easter, particularly if you have children. There are ways to keep your kids’ teeth healthy between visits to their dentist while still giving them some fun, seasonal treats to enjoy.
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