Tip of the week 5 from Pearl Dental Practice and Beauty Salon, Dublin 2

Check Your Diet…

Much as this may be a surprise to many, tooth decay does not just happen.

For your tooth to rot, it needs to be covered in bacteria (of which millions inhabit every mouth, even the clean ones!), and these then need a regular supply of sugar to do their damage. Those of you with a sweet tooth will know what we’re on about straightaway, but for those of you in denial, check for the number of times you drink tea or coffee with a little sugar added each day. Count how many times you pick up a fizzy drink, a fruit juice or a squash between meals. Incidentally, most fizzy drinks are acidic as well, even the sugar free versions, and are probably one of our biggest business builders! Keep track of the number of little snacks you smuggle in to keep your day at work bearable. And don’t forget the sneaky sugary ones, like flavourings for crisps, sauces on foods or sandwiches, most mints for sucking or chewing, and many chewing gums to name just a few.

Late night snacks are particularly unfavourable for teeth, as the natural defence, saliva, slows down to prevent drowning (or drooling!) when asleep, so that hot chocolate before bed is not a great idea.

Ideally, your teeth should not be exposed to sugar more than 3 or 4 times in an average day, which is generally breakfast, lunch and dinner time, and if you find you’re way over this figure, we’ll probably be seeing you soon!!

For parents out there, kids teeth are much more vulnerable than those of adults, so be obsessive with their diet when young to prevent serious trouble later on. Good habits in childhood tend to last, as do bad ones! More on kids in the next tip of the week.

For more advice, search this blog, ask your dentist or hygienist, or contact us at the surgery on 01 679 062, via e-mail at reception@pearltreatments.ie, or see our main website www.pearltreatments.ie.