These Mistakes Made During the Holiday Season Cause Tooth Decay
Consuming excessive amounts of acidic beverages and sweets during holidays leads to sudden oral and dental problems for both children and adults. To get through the holiday period without issues and to be protected from toothaches, it is necessary to pay attention to oral and dental care during the holidays as well. Dentist Emin Serhat Arıkan, who serves his patients in Adana, explained the ways to be protected from toothaches during holiday breaks for you.
Every Sugar Consumed During Holidays Can Pose a Threat to Dental Health
Holidays traditionally cannot be thought of separately from chocolate, candy, and sweets. When acidic beverages are added to this, holiday breaks turn into a dangerous time frame for oral and dental health. Avoiding acidic beverages for children in their developmental age is of great importance for general health status as much as for oral and dental health. After every meal we eat, bacteria interact with food and begin to produce acids that pave the way for cavity formation in teeth. Sugar is among the most important factors that increase acid production. In particular, snacks such as chips, chocolate, and the like consumed during the day are factors that accelerate the decay process.
Oral and Dental Care is Essential Before Going on Vacation
Going for an oral and dental examination before holiday breaks or long summer vacations helps you be peaceful and safe throughout the vacation. Indeed, an acute dental problem that emerges during a vacation can cause you to spend your holiday with unbearable pain. Therefore, if there is sensitivity in your teeth, it is beneficial to go for an oral and dental examination. Because cavities in our mouths can progress rapidly without showing any symptoms.
Brushing Teeth 1 Hour After Eating Prevents Erosion
One of the most common mistakes we make regarding oral and dental health issues is brushing our teeth immediately after a meal. When we brush our teeth right after consuming sugary foods and acidic beverages, we also accelerate the erosion process on the teeth. After acidic foods come into contact with the tooth, the tooth enamel temporarily softens. This softening turns into serious erosion over time and the tooth enamel begins to thin. This leads to sensitivity in the teeth. To prevent this risk of erosion, it is beneficial to brush our teeth approximately one hour after meals.
What are the Measures to Protect Us from Cavities?
After consuming any sweet or sugary food, we must drink water or rinse our mouth with plenty of water. Along with this, chewing sugar-free gum also prevents the acidic environment that will occur in our mouth, thus ensuring a reduction in the risk of cavities. It is necessary to encourage children who consume large amounts of sugar to drink water or rinse their mouths immediately afterwards. The use of fluoridated water used today significantly reduces the number of cavities occurring in children's primary teeth.
Choose Unsweetened Coffee and Dark Chocolate
Coffee beans contain a component called trigonelline. This substance can prevent bacteria from sticking to the tooth surface. Therefore, consuming unsweetened coffee and choosing dark chocolate instead of foods like Turkish delight that stick to the teeth is a more accurate step for oral and dental health. Cleaning the teeth during snacks and consuming fruits like pears and apples that prevent plaque formation are also beneficial steps.
