How to Enjoy Your Easter Chocolate and be Cavity-Free Too

With Easter just around the corner, chocolate treats are everywhere. While most people know that eating too much chocolate will ruin their diet, it’s easy to forget the potential effect on teeth. Whenever you eat foods that are sweet or starchy, your mouth bacteria use the excess sugars to create energy, producing a weak acid that erodes tooth enamel. Repeated exposure to these acids eventually causes cavities. However, by protecting your teeth against excessive exposure to these acids, you can reduce your risk of tooth decay, and the really good news is that you can still enjoy a few Easter goodies. Chocolate Is Better for Your Teeth Because it melts so easily, chocolate leaves less residue over your teeth and is far better than choosing sticky toffee or caramel. Also, avoid sweets that are very acidic or sour. Don’t Graze on Sweet Treats It may be fun to snack on sweet treats, but it’s terrible for your teeth because they are continually exposed to acid produced by your mouth bacteria. It’s far better to indulge as a part of a main meal and afterwards, eat something like a crunchy apple or carrot because the high fibre content has a slight scouring action on your teeth.  Finish your meal by rinsing your mouth with water and wait at least half an hour before brushing because initially your tooth enamel is softer due to exposure to acids and it will gradually re-harden as pH levels begin to normalise.