It is Easter Monday and we hope that everyone is enjoying some time with their families. During easter it is traditional for many children to receive chocolate easter eggs. Unfortunately chocolate is one of the main culprits in causing tooth decay as it contains a large amount of refined sugar. Bacteria in your mouth will use this sugar as a source of energy so that they can multiply in number and start to attack your teeth. It is not possible for many people to completely avoid sugary foods and so we recommend that you try and at least reduce the amount of sugary snacks that you have during the day and if possible have them with your normal meal times rather than snacking in between meals. Studies have shown that it is better to have a large sugary snack in one sitting compared with spreading small sugary snacks throughout the day.
Along with reducing the amount and frequency of sugary snack we also strongly recommend that you brush at least twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste. This has the benefit of physically removing plaque and bacteria from your teeth. Also the fluoride in the toothpaste helps to battle the bacteria and also strengthen your teeth.
At both of our dental practice we run the Scottish Child smile programme. This is aimed to help prevent dental problems from birth by giving parents and children the information needed to ensure they have a healthy diet and also that they are brushing their teeth properly. We also give free toothpaste and toothbrushes to children that join this scheme and it is an excellent way to introduce your child to the dental practice in a friendly and relaxed manner.
If you would like to book a visit for your child to visit one of our Child Smile nurses then please get in touch with our staff in either our Cambuslang Dental Practice or our Glasgow Dental Practice.
