Take it Easy with the Treats at Easter & Protect Your Family’s Teeth!

When people think of Easter, they think of egg hunts and the Easter Bunny hiding baskets of chocolates and goodies. Whether you  are a kid or an adult, having these treats around can be very tempting (and because it is a special day, it makes you feel validated for enjoying them).

It isn’t very realistic that you’re going to avoid Easter goodies altogether – no one (especially kids) likes to be left out of the fun of the holiday. However, treats should be consumed in limited quantities to help avoid tooth decay, immediately followed by proper oral hygiene.

Ideally, you want to choose candy that dissolves quickly – vs stuff that is going to sit in your mouth too long, drowning your teeth in sugar. Bacteria in the mouth feeds off the sugar that then creates an acidic reaction which harms tooth enamel.

It would also be better to provide kids with less candy and chocolate…and allow them to eat it in one sitting vs. dragging it out. That way, they can be finish it, brush their teeth, and be done with it.

Another idea is to fill their baskets with non-edible gifts like stuffed toys, books, or games that they can enjoy for days and weeks to come! That will also distract them from receiving less candy.

The top candies that the “Easter Bunny” should avoid handing out include:

• Crème filled eggs
• Anything gummy
• Jelly beans
• Marshmellow treats
• Sugary gum

Remember to always rinse with water, and brush as soon as possible after indulging for at least two minutes. Oh, and don’t forget to floss too in order to get rid of anything that your brush may not be able to reach!

The staff at Healthy Smiles Family Dentistry in Surrey wishes you a VERY Happy Easter weekend!