Good News from your Dentist!
In America everyone is preparing to celebrate Thanksgiving. Friendship, family and just as importantly; food!
Turkey with cranberry. Apple pie, pecan pie, cider, wine. Good things which take on a special importance around about now.
Of course, what they eat can depend on where they live and who they’re descended from. In Alaska, for example, the main course may still include whale meat while on the West Coast celebrations might centre around Dungeness Crab as the new catching season begins. Italian Americans may serve lasagne as a side dish while peas and rice may accompany the Latin table.
Whatever the entrees, everyone looks forward to dessert. As well as the traditional pies, pumpkin, pecan and apple there are other things: fig and blackberry tart or a floating lime soufflé.
People who watch their weight know this simple rule: ‘If it looks good, it must be bad for you!’
Unfortunately a lot of this sort of food is also bad for your teeth. All those carbs! All that sugar! The acid in that fruit attacks tooth enamel causing the surface to dissolve. The sugar in those desserts feeds the bacteria which cause tooth decay and gum disease. So where’s the good news?
The good news is it doesn’t matter so long as we take a little care:
- Clean the teeth well at the beginning of the day. The less bacteria in the mouth the less harm they can do.
- Eat all those sweet things together at mealtimes. Don’t spend the day eating sweets. A lot of sugar at once does much less harm than a little taken often.
- After acid things drink a glass of water. It rinses most of the acid away. Our teeth are designed to repair themselves after acid attack by taking up new calcium from saliva.
- Clean the teeth thoroughly again before bed. We may want sweet dreams but we don’t want bugs in our mouths sharing them!
Our bodies are miraculous. They’re designed to look after themselves but they sometimes need a little help. Eat sensibly, take care and have a fabulous time.
Happy Thanksgiving!
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