Learn How to Avoid Sugar and Keep Your Teeth Healthier From Our General Dentistry Office

In our general dentistry office, we treat patients of all ages and believe that preventative care is the best way to keep your gums and teeth healthy.  This starts at home with a good diet and a steady oral hygiene routine.  In our dental office, we provide preventative exams and teeth cleanings to remove the bacteria and plaque that have been left behind and to treat any infections quickly, as soon as they start to develop.  This team approach is the best way to stay in good oral health.One of the common questions we are asked this time of year is whether or not it is okay to eat candy.  With Halloween around the corner, kids want to trick-or-treat and once it is over the holiday season is quick to approach.  This means more cakes, pies, cookies, and treats than what is normal for the rest of the year.  During this season it is difficult for both children and adults to resist sugary treats, creating an increased risk for developing cavities.  Sugar is bad for your teeth in any quantity as it can turn into an acid that attacks your teeth.  Eating too much of it can be entirely detrimental to your health.In our general dentistry office, we understand that while it is difficult to avoid sugar – it is not impossible.  We have several tips that you can use to help you and your children to avoid sugar and eat a healthier diet, regardless of what time of year it is.  Here is what you can try at home.

• Drink smoothies.  Replace your morning pancakes or sugary treats with a healthy smoothie. This is an easy and fun way to feed your kids fruits and veggies, and they love how great they taste.  You can have a lot of fun with smoothies.  For example, put kale in with yogurt and a banana to make a green smoothie that looks like slime.  For grownups, this is a normal looking smoothie.  For kids, it becomes something to capture the imagination.  Young kids in particular enjoy having fun with their food.  You can also make a game of it by asking them to guess what is inside of their smoothie each day.
• Eat a healthy diet.  When you fill up on healthy foods, you will be less tempted to indulge in sugary treats.  Make sure that you don’t go to a party on an empty stomach.  Instead, you and your kids should eat a meal that contains lean protein, veggies, and complex carbs so that you stay full and have energy.  This way when you pass by a table full of pies and cakes, you will be less tempted to overindulge. We also recommend carrying healthy snacks with you to eat in the car if you get hungry.
• Drink more water.  Every time you go to a party or sit down for dinner have a glass of water.  This will make you feel full, and you won’t want to eat so many snacks.

As a general dentist, we know that by avoiding sugar you will improve the health of your teeth.  Eat healthy, brush often, and have your teeth cleaned twice a year in order to stay in excellent oral health.

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