Do you have a sweet tooth you just can’t deny? If so, you need to know the right way to eat sweets. You can enjoy sugar without hurting your smile as long as you are mindful of your oral health. Here are some tips to get you started.
Chew Sugarless Gum After Meals Or Snacks
Chewing sugarless gum is a great way to rinse out your mouth in between brushings. The gum encourages saliva production, and the saliva washes your teeth. You can chew gum for about 20 minutes after a meal or snack to get your teeth as clean as possible. Then when you have time, brush and floss like you normally would to fully get rid of the sugar.
As an alternative to chewing gum (or in addition to doing so), rinse your mouth out with water after you eat.
Drink Soda From A Straw
If you are going to drink something sugary like soda or a sports drink, use a straw. This will minimize the amount of interaction your teeth have with the sugar. You should still drink water as often as possible, but you can enjoy a sweet drink on occasion.
Also, try to reduce the amount of time you drink a soda. Rather than sipping it throughout the day, drink it all within a 30 minute timeframe. This reduces your teeth’s exposure to sugar, which will help keep them strong.
Avoid Brushing Your Teeth Right After Sugar
At first, this sounds controversial. Wouldn’t you want to brush the sugar away from your teeth right away? Sugar temporarily weakens your enamel. If you brush your teeth right after consuming it, you may wear off the enamel during the cleaning. This will make your teeth more susceptible to staining in the future, and it will make them more sensitive. Wait at least 30 minutes to brush after eating or drinking something sweet.
Maintain A Healthy Overall Diet
Having a sweet treat every once and a while isn’t a problem, but don’t make it a daily habit. You should still have a well-balanced diet full of vegetables, proteins, fiber and calcium. Eating good food during the day will minimize the effects of the occasional “bad” food. Take notice of the amount of sugar in your daily diet and eliminate anything that is particularly high in sugar. This, combined with regular trips to your family dentist, will keep your teeth looking their best.
