Holiday Sweets - Naughty or Nice
Believe it or not, some holiday candy is better than others.
We spoke with a Manhattan dentist, Dr. Laura Torrado, who has come up with a list of which ones are less harmful to your teeth.
Holiday Sweets - Naughty or Nice:
Naughty:
" Large Candy Canes - Extended sucking on candy lengthens exposure to sugar, which causes tooth decay
" Caramel - Any candy that sticks prolongs the length that sugar is exposed to your teeth and often it's often difficult to get sticky candy out of tooth crevices.
" Gingerbread Cookies - Starchy foods such as cookies get stuck in your mouth and trapped in between teeth.
Nice:
" Chocolate Gelt - Chocolate is a thumbs-up as its sugars are coated in fat, so it easily washes out of your mouth.
" Fruit Dipped in Dark Chocolate - Fiber-rich fruits have a detergent effect in your mouth and stimulate saliva flow (a natural defense against cavities and gum disease).
" A Small Bowl of Sugar-Free Ice Cream - The calcium and phosphates in milk (or ice cream) help replenish minerals your teeth might have lost due to other foods.
" Licorice - Ingredients in licorice inhibit the growth of Streptococcus, the main plaque-causing bacteria.
Also, note that the longer harmful food stays in your mouth, the worse it is. Therefore it's not necessarily the amount of sweets you eat, but how often you eat them. Although not encouraged, it's best to have 10 candy canes at once than eat one per hour.
* The National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research estimates that children will miss 52 million hours of school each year due to oral health problems and about 12.5 million days of restricted activity every year from dental symptoms.
For tips in general about how to care for your child's teeth and prevent tooth decay.
Dr. Torrado suggests that parents teach their kids how to take care of their teeth, as they are responsible for ensuring that their children practice good dental hygiene. A great routine for children includes:
For Infants:
" Thoroughly clean your infant's gums after each feeding with a water-soaked infant cloth. This stimulates the gum tissue and removes food.
" Gently brush your baby's erupted teeth with a small, soft-bristled toothbrush and use a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste.
Children:
" Teach your child at age 2 or 3 about proper brushing techniques and about brushing and gentle flossing at age 7 or 8.
" Visit a dentist regularly to check for cavities in the primary teeth and for possible developmental problems.
" Encourage your child to discuss any fears they may have about oral health visits, but without mentions words like "pain" or "hurt," since this may instill the possibility of pain in the child's thought process.
" Determine if the water supply served at your home is fluoridated; if not, discuss supplement options with your dentist or hygienist (Dr. Torrado can provide options)
" Ask your dentist about sealant applications to protect your child's teeth-chewing surfaces and about bottle tooth decay, which occurs when teeth are frequently exposed to sugared liquids."
Dr. Laura Torrado is one of the top female cosmetic dentists in the country.
According to the CDC, the Center of Disease Control and Prevention, tooth decay is the most common chronic disease of childhood (five times more common than asthma). The disease affects more than one-fourth of U.S. Children aged 2-5 and half those aged 12-15.
www.cdc.gov
