Our beloved month of December has arrived and with it Christmas! It’s a date marked by affection, peace and harmony, and of course there’s no shortage of holly, dreams, golden slices and Bolo Rei.
Although it’s a festive time for the whole family, the increase in sugar consumption requires some special care, so that the typical sweets of the season aren’t a poisoned gift for families’ oral health.
Here are some tips to help your teeth survive the advent calendars, French toast and vermicelli! Let’s take some precautions to minimise the consequences:
1. Brush your teeth 20 minutes after eating sweets
Teeth should be brushed at least twice a day: morning and night and always using a fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride plays an essential role in remineralising teeth after ingesting sugars and acids, strengthening teeth and preventing the appearance of cavities.
You should therefore wait approximately 20-30 minutes before brushing your teeth to allow time for the acid to be neutralised and the teeth not to erode.
2. Use dental floss and/or a toothbrush
As a complement to brushing with fluoride paste, it is also recommended to use dental floss and/or a toothbrush every day, because if we ignore this stage, oral hygiene will not be complete.
Whether it’s dental floss, dental tape or a toothbrush, these are essential for removing food debris that gets lodged between the teeth where the toothbrush can’t reach.
3. Do not drink or eat for 30 minutes after oral hygiene
As a complement to brushing with fluoride paste, it is also recommended to use dental floss and/or a toothbrush every day, because if we ignore this stage, oral hygiene will not be complete.
Whether it’s dental floss, dental tape or a toothbrush, these are essential for removing food debris that gets lodged between the teeth where the toothbrush can’t reach.
4. Avoid snacking on sweets between main meals
As we’ve already mentioned, sweets should be consumed in moderation and we should choose to eat them as a dessert rather than between meals.
Eating sweets throughout the day allows the bacteria to have nutrients for longer and therefore to stay in the mouth longer and colonise the teeth. And if you can resist, choose sweets that are less sticky so that they are more easily removed from the tooth surface by the tongue and saliva.
5. Drink more water during the day and chew sugar-free gum after meals
Saliva, which plays a key role in cleaning tooth surfaces and maintaining the pH of the oral cavity, is made up of 95 per cent water, which is why it’s essential to drink water and stay hydrated.
Chewing gum (sugar-free, of course) is also a great ally in oral health care when you don’t have toothpaste and a toothbrush to hand. As well as tricking the stomach and leading to a reduction in the intake of sweets, the mechanical action of chewing and the friction of the gum cause a superficial cleaning of the teeth.
