The Easter egg: A seemingly innocuous cavity monster. Behind that cute facade, the Easter bunny is little more than a plaque merchant. This may sound pretty polemical, but looking after your teeth during, and post a chocolate binge is an absolute must!
A question of time
Realistically, Easter eggs won’t pose too much of a threat provided some simple rules are followed, even before you start: Try and keep when you eat them to after meal times, as snacking on them throughout the day can actually cause more damage. Also, try and keep some sugar free chewing gum to hand for between meals (in case you do succumb). This will encourage the flow of saliva, reducing the effect of sugar on teeth.
Regular brushing
Brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes with fluoride toothpaste, just as you would any other day. However, make sure you leave at least an hour after eating chocolate before you brush, as the acid in food will soften your tooth enamel and brushing can potentially wear the enamel away. Waiting an hour gives your saliva a chance to neutralise the acid. Brushing before bed is especially important as saliva production slows down at night. Spitting after brushing, as opposed to rinsing, is recommended, as rinsing can reduce the effectiveness of the fluoride. Also, be thorough when brushing: Leave no nook or cranny unbrushed!
To conclude
Do remember that Easter comes round just once a year so, provided you keep your teeth clean and eat healthily the rest of the year, one decadent weekend shouldn’t do too much harm. Just try and stick to the rules above, not just for Easter but for every day! If you have any concerns, make sure to book an appointment with your Liverpool dentist.
