Celebrate Easter With A Safe, Healthy Smile

Happy Easter, from all of us at Alluring Smiles!

We hope you enjoy the holiday with your family and friends, but we also want to help you keep your smile safe from the goodies you might be eating and drinking while you’re having fun.

It’s certainly a special time with people you care about, but it can also be really tough on your smile if you’re not careful.

Dr. Portocarrero and our team in Mesa, AZ can help you protect your teeth and gums throughout it all, starting with today’s blog about keeping your smile healthy this Easter!

Food & Drinks Affect Your Smile

It doesn’t matter what holiday you’re celebrating, the fact is the American tradition is to celebrate with food and drinks on special occasions.

And that’s a big part of the fun!

But it’s important to know how certain foods and drinks can affect your teeth so you can always make informed choices.

So here are some things to look out for hiding in your favorite holiday sweets and treats:

*Lots of Sugar*

More than anything you consume, sugar is the most threatening to your smile. That’s because the bad bacteria that lives in your mouth loves it most.

When bacteria feeds on sugar from your favorite foods and drinks, it creates harmful acids that attack your tooth enamel.

*High Acidity*

Sodas, even diet ones, as well as alcohol and even fruity drinks, all contain high acid levels. This leads to erosion of your tooth’s outer layer and allows harmful bacteria to seep in and lead to cavities and decay.

*Dark Pigments*

Brightly-colored food and drinks contain dark pigments that can stick to your teeth and leave your smile looking dingy and discolored.

How To Be Kind To Your Teeth This Easter

We would never tell you to cut out the delightful indulgences of the Easter holiday entirely. It’s okay to relax and treat yourself every now and then.

We will, however, give you some pointers for protecting your smile despite the extra sugar and other threats to your teeth.

*Fill Your Easter Basket With Non-Edible Treats*

Candy isn’t the only treat you should use to fill the Easter baskets in your house.

Consider treats that won’t hurt your kids’ teeth like age-appropriate toys, crafts, and other fun gifts they can enjoy! Some candy is fine, but don’t forget that there are plenty of other fun choices out there for Easter baskets that won’t harm teeth.

*Color And Other Candy Characteristics*

Not all candy creates massive dental disasters, as long as you practice moderation, of course.

But there are some that should be avoided.

Gooey, sticky candy that’s popular during the Easter holiday, like marshmallow bunnies and jelly beans, can too easily get lodged between your teeth and other small places in your mouth.

This only gives bad bacteria fuel to multiply and spread.

Another characteristic to consider when filling your Easter basket is its color. Darker candy can leave stains on your teeth, so you should try to avoid that as well.

*Don’t Let Candy Become A Routine Snack*

Similar to Halloween candy bowls that sit out in the open on the kitchen counter for far too long, Easter baskets tempt us to let candy become a routine snack for days or weeks while they’re sitting out.

You can protect your teeth by freezing your Easter candy and only grabbing a couple of pieces here and there instead of grazing on it all throughout the day.

*Drinks That Harm Your Teeth*

Often during big family gatherings, you’ll find an array of soft drinks to choose from. Other popular choices are sweet tea and sugary lemonade, and even alcohol.

Unfortunately, all of these options are tough on your teeth. With lots of added sugar and high acidity, they can eat away at your tooth enamel and give harmful bacteria entrance to the inside.

During your Easter gathering, try to limit your consumption of these types of drinks.

*Water – The Cleaning Between Cleanings*

Much like the smorgasboard of delicious foods we all enjoy at Thanksgiving, Easter is usually a time of great feasting.

Popular fare this time of year includes fried chicken, country honey-glazed ham, potato salad, macaroni and cheese, buttery yeast rolls, and lots of desserts.

Wait… what were we talking about again?

Just thinking about all that food is enough to distract anyone, right?!

Our point is that you can clean your teeth between your usual daily brushing and flossing by rinsing your mouth out with water after your Easter dinner to wash away all the particles left behind.

Schedule An Appointment

All throughout the year, we have reasons to celebrate, and most of those celebrations center on foods and drinks that can harm your teeth.

You can keep your smile healthy by always relying on Dr. Portocarrero and our team at Alluring Smiles when the parties come to an end.

Just like we reminded you during the holidays, we’re once again giving you a friendly nudge to pick up the phone and call to schedule your next dental cleaning and exam.

In our Mesa, AZ dental office, you’ll find the skilled professionals and the technology to keep your teeth and gums safe, no matter the season or the holiday!

Call Alluring Smiles today at 480-830-6300 or fill out our online form to schedule your next appointment.