10 Sweet Tooth Tips

My husband and I were grocery shopping the other day and I noticed something. It dawned on me that it’s that time of the year again. The season of sweet tooths! I see all the shelves packed with candy ready for Halloween. You know kids love candy. And parents, we can’t deny diving into our kids’ candy bags from time to time. And what’s coming next? Thanksgiving and Christmas right around the corner. And we know all about those Little Debbie’s Christmas tree cakes.

So in this article, I want to give you my 10 SWEET TOOTH TIPS to follow during this sweet tooth season:

1. Space eating your candy corns and Little Debbie cakes predominantly during mealtimes. This will allow enough time to pass for your saliva to do its job neutralizing all the acids from eating.
2. Pay attention to how much you eat. You have to think of your mouth as a machine. The more you use it, the more parts are likely to break on it. Occasionally, you’re going to have to repair some parts, but why not save what you can, when you can?
3. Be mindful of the consistency of the foods you eat as well. Caramels and taffys are very sticky and are known for pulling out fillings and crowns. Hard foods like almonds and candy canes are hard by nature and by force can break teeth. Soft foods like breads and cakes can inadvertently cause teeth to break as well. I see this all the time in our dental practice, especially around the holidays. So be careful guys and gals.
4. If you absolutely love candy and always have to have it, at least choose sugar-free candies with Xylitol. Xylitol actually fights cavities by arresting the activity of the Streptococcus mutans bacteria that causes tooth decay. Xylitol gums are great because they stimulate salivary flow which is great for neutralizing acids and xylitol acts on stopping the bacteria. My personal favorites are Dr. John’s xylitol candies Dr. Johns and Mentos gum.
5. Try neutralizing the acids in your mouth frequently throughout the day. For a quick organic solution of neutralizing mouthwash, mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda with 2 cups of water. The main thing is to reduce acid wear.
6. Try to balance out those extra calories with exercise and a nutritional diet. Exercise is the best medicine. It’s natural and prevents depression, diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity.
7. Of course make sure the last thing you do before going to bed is floss then brush your teeth using a fluoridated toothpaste. The act of brushing will remove the remaining bacterial plaque buildup on your teeth left from the day, and the fluoride acts as a protectant sealer and makes the teeth stronger, further protecting the teeth from acid wear.
8. Also make sure you’re up to date with your regularly scheduled dental cleanings. Professional cleanings help maintain the health of the oral cavity. Keep in mind, your oral health is directly connected to your systemic health.
9. If you do experience any sensitivity or “zing” in your sweet tooth, that is not a good sign. You should see a dentist right away. You are experiencing sensitivity due to a problem, and the tooth is letting you know.
10. If you do experience a toothache during the sweet tooth season and you can’t get to the dentist right away, try putting tiny dabs of clove oil on the tooth along with using and alternating between Tylenol and ibuprofen every six hours for pain relief. Be careful with the clove oil. It’s very strong in smell and can cause chemical burns to the gum tissue.

No one wants to have a dental emergency during memorable moments. So hopefully my 10 tips will help you have a pleasant sweet tooth season. Y’all enjoy!  #LoveToSmile

In case of a dental emergency, you can reach iHeart Dental at (912) 499-1133 or our after hours emergency line (912) 429-2878.