“All I really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt!” Lucy Van Pelt, “Peanuts”

There are 2 times in the year when I think chocolate is king…Easter and Xmas.  Seeing as the latter is 260 days away.  Don’t hate me for sharing that news, you know as soon as Easter is over the shops will start making room for the decorations so I am really just helping you prepare

So it’s a given that sugar is bad for your teeth, BUT chocolate which I love is an exception?  Absolutely not (although it should be) however here are my top tips for protecting those teeth from what they are going to be bombarded on Easter Sunday…especially your Kids

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Having been bombarded with questions about the breaking news that the government advice to eat 5 portions of fruit and veg a day is causing damage to the nation’s teeth, I thought it would be useful to clarify the situation

Firstly fruits and veg are very good for you, that is a given.

Your 5 a day

Antioxidants help the body renew itself and fight all sorts of diseases such as cancer. I am often asked if supplements are a good idea, eg there is an antioxidant called CoenzymeQ that has been linked with improving the health of your gums. My answer is always to increase your uptake of nature’s antioxidants far better than any man made one BUT there is a problem.

Acid and sugar are like a Molotov cocktail for teeth. The acid dissolves the enamel of your teeth, making them more vunerable and the sugar feed the bacteria which release toxins to cause even more damage, a vicious cycle. This makes sense to most people if you are eating candy but not when dealing with fruit (more…)

We all know it’s a fact…don’t eat sugar, it’s bad for your teeth right? Good that’s out of the way and a slam dunk.  BUT what do you do when you have a craving and consume a huge bag of cinema sweet popcorn like I did last week?  Yes even dentists do become human late at night….but don’t tell anyone!

How does sugar cause the damage?  Basically the bacteria in your mouth feed on the sugar to create an acidic environment that softens the enamel of your teeth (The posh term for this is demineralisation) They can then burrow deeper and deeper into the tooth, causing damage as they go resulting in cavities and pain

SO I thought I would share some tips for damage limitation

1. Eat it all in one go…yup you read that right!  It takes about an hour for your mouth to neutralise the effect of any sugar attack.  So the more you graze, the more likely the cavities.

Eating the whole bag in 10mins like I did is actually better than picking at it for hours!

2. Protect your enamel beforehand.  Ideally brush your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste before eating anything sweet.  I know it seems premeditated, but you wouldn’t go into battle without putting on your armour and combat gear first

3. An alternative is to use a fluoride mouthwash instead or even smearing toothpaste over your teeth then spitting out instead of rinsing it.  The fluoride will help coat the enamel surface

4. Munch on sugar free gum, it increases the saliva in your mouth so helps neutralise the acid the bacteria produce.  Only chew for about 10mins or until the flavour goes or you start a new set of problems as overchewing can cause cracks and breakage of teeth and even Joint problems

5.DO NOT brush your teeth straight after eating anything sweet…ever!  The enamel is soft and vulnerable and you would be in effect brushing it away.  Do everything suggested above instead

6. Go see your dentist regularly so they can spot any problem early and advise you

7. Eating anything sweet as part of your main meal is ok because you are producing lots of saliva…but I know it’s the ‘inbetween’ snacking that’s usually the problem!

Above all, enjoy…..those teeth were made for eating, smiling and anything else that makes you happy  So look after them!