Easter baskets are normally filled with the sweetest of treats from fruity favorites to rich, chocolate covered bunnies.
Via: Ask the Dentist
Watching our daughters hunt for eggs Easter morning are some of my fondest memories as a father.
But it always freaks me out to go into the grocery store around the Easter season. There is so much junk out there! Marketing Easter candy has become big business, and it’s really our children who lose.
I think it’s easy to think “oh, just this once.” But that mentality has a lasting effect. Even “just this once” candy can alter our taste buds, making us crave worse foods in the following weeks and months. It’s these “just this once” holidays where children learn what’s normal and where they develop habits they keep for the rest of their lives.
Sugary, refined carbohydrates also change the development of the bones and structure of our children’s faces and airways. The earlier children begin to have dental issues like cavities, the more complicated their oral health gets in adulthood.
This all might sound very serious, but I promise this doesn’t have to put a damper on the Easter holiday. I have a sweet tooth myself and don’t think you have to sacrifice any of the fun just because you want to model moderation and healthy habits during the holidays.
This is my guide for everything to know about Easter candy — the good, the bad, and the ugly, as well as healthy swaps you can make.
Quick Tips to Prevent Cavities After Eating Candy
You can minimize that acid attack by the bacteria by doing a few things when you eat candy.
Eat candy with plenty of water.
Water helps neutralize the acids produced by the bacteria.
Swish vigorously with water afterward.
This can help shake loose bits of sticky candy that get stuck in between teeth. When candy gets stuck in your teeth, those bacteria can have a heyday of a feast and continue excreting acid all day long until you get home to floss and brush that chunk out.
Don’t snack all day.
Eating a lot of candy all at once is better than spreading it out over days or weeks. If you’re going to expose your teeth to acid, do it for as little time as possible.
Wait to brush.
all that acid in your mouth, you’ll want to wait to brush and floss for at least 30 minutes to one hour, depending on how much water you’ve had to neutralize the acid. Enamel is strong, but it wears away with acid, and brushing with all that acid in your mouth could easily wear away more enamel.
