How to keep your teeth healthy during the Easter holidays

Your teeth probably don’t love chocolate eggs as much as you do

We’re all looking forward to eating mountains of brightly wrapped eggs this Easter weekend. But if you’re worried about how your teeth will cope with the extra sugar, you’re in luck – Dr Mikaela Chinotti, dentist and Colgate ambassador, shares three ways to keep your teeth in tip-top shape this Easter.

We’re all counting down the days until we have mountains of chocolate to snack on, some of us have been unable to walk past the supermarkets’ colourful egg aisles and started snacking already.

But if you’re worried your sweet tooth could soon turn painful, there are changes we can make this Easter to protect our teeth a little better.

What’s the damage from  Easter on our teeth?

Dentist Dr Mikaela Chinotti tells Body+Soul, “some of Australia’s favourite Easter chocolates contain high amounts of sugar, ranging from about 20 - 50 teaspoons. One teaspoon is around four grams of sugar and many treats contain multiple servings.”

“These treats should be enjoyed in moderation, as high sugar intake feeds bacteria in the mouth, which produce acids that weaken tooth enamel and lead to cavities.” 

She adds that it’s not all about how much sugar we eat over the long weekend either. 

“The bigger concern isn’t just how much sugar we eat, but how often we expose our teeth to it.”

The bigger concern isn’t just how much sugar we eat, but how often we expose our teeth to it.

Tips to protect your teeth this Easter

Eat your chocolate with a meal

Many of us unwrap a little chocolate egg whenever we walk past the pantry, sit down for a coffee, or just need a quick treat. 

But Chinotti warns against snacking on Easter eggs to reduce the damage to your teeth. 

“Rather than consuming sugary treats for an extended time or snacking on them throughout the day, reduce the sugar left in your mouth by eating chocolate immediately after a meal or with other food.”

But Chinotti warns against snacking on Easter eggs to reduce the damage to your teeth.

Pay attention to your oral hygiene routine

The dentist says we need to pay extra attention to our oral care routines over Easter as we consume more sugar than usual. 

“Choose an effective oral care regime”, she recommends, including a toothpaste, mouthwash, floss picks and toothbrush centred around active prevention.

The dentist says we need to pay extra attention to our oral care routines over Easter as we consume more sugar than usual.  Image: Pexels

Drink water after eating chocolate

In between big lunches and family events, you may find yourself drinking more alcoholic or sugary drinks than water over the Easter break, but it’s important to remember to hydrate.

“Drinking a glass of water after eating chocolate can help wash away sugar and food particles left on your teeth and neutralise acids which cause bacteria”, Chinotti says. 

Originally published as How to keep your teeth healthy during the Easter holidays