Valentine's Day Candy: Improving Your Dental Hygiene
If you’re still reeling from the influx of candy hearts and lollipops from Valentine’s Day, you’ve come to the right place. Post-Valentine’s Day is a key time for cavities to develop, so it’s really important for you, or your child, to ensure that your dental hygiene routine is solid. Here are some tips on how to beat the candy sugar rush!
Try to eat more dark chocolate
Not only is dark chocolate relatively heart-healthy, it also is healthier for your teeth. Other types of chocolate typically contain higher levels of sugar and milk, which are more detrimental to your teeth. Sticky candy is also not the best option as it consists of the highest levels of sugar out of all of your options.
H2O, Just Add Water, Lots of Water
Drink water. Lots of it. There’s nothing worse than letting the sugar sit on your teeth, developing more bacteria and plaque. Rinse your mouth out after eating chocolate to ensure that there’s no leftover residue. Staying hydrated prevents dry mouth and limits bacterial growth.
Brush with a fluoride toothpaste
If available, make sure to brush your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste immediately after eating candy. This will ensure that your teeth are even more fresh and clean than if you only drank water.
Limit the amount of times you eat candy
We know you may love to savor your Valentine’s Day candy stash as there won’t be a refill until Halloween. However, eating candy a few times a day is much more harmful to your dental care than eating a lot of candy at once. When you snack a lot throughout the day, the saliva in your mouth does not have the time to neutralize acids produced by bacteria.