If you have kids in the house, then soon you’re going to have a sweet mess on your hands!
That’s because it’s almost Valentine’s Day, and the kiddos will be excited about all the candy they’ll get from all the holiday parties at friends houses and in the classroom.
But just like at Halloween, our team at Beck Dental Care is here to support your efforts to keep your family’s teeth and gums healthy.
Today, we thought we’d revisit some of the hard facts about sugar, its effect on teeth and gums, and how you can avoid that bitter trap with your family with sugar-free alternatives for Valentine’s Day!
And as always, we’ll be reminding you to schedule your
family’s next visit
to our Columbia, TN dental office!
Sugar, Sugar, Say It Ain’t So!
We know it’s tough for kids to accept, but sugar is just bad for teeth.
Your teeth have to stay healthy and strong enough to last your whole life. Even your child’s teeth now will impact the health of their adult teeth later.
That’s why it’s important that they know what kind of dental damage sugar can create.
Here’s a three-step process that illustrates sugars journey inside your mouth:
Step 1: Sugar Dehydrates You
Believe it or not, your teeth couldn’t last without saliva.
Saliva is your body’s way of arming your teeth and gums from harmful bacteria. Because it’s composed of calcium and other minerals that build up your teeth’s strength, you need enough saliva to coat the inside of your mouth so bacteria can’t get through.
Sugar keeps that from happening because sugar can lead to dehydration. Often, you see hidden sugars in sports drinks and fruit juices, both of which aren’t at all the hydrating source your body needs.
Step 2: Dehydration Weakens Your Enamel
Without saliva, your teeth and gums are no longer protected. This means that all the sugar in your mouth that remain, from residue and food particles lodged between teeth, can be ravaged by bad bacteria.
That process releases harmful acids that break down your tooth enamel, leaving tiny holes that invite more bacteria that’s now thriving inside your mouth.
Step 3: Weak Tooth Enamel Leads To Tooth Decay
Now that your tooth enamel is weak and defenseless, harmful bacteria can break through your enamel and cause tooth decay, cavities, and worse.
Encourage Kids To Create Sugar-Free Valentines
You don’t have to send your kids to school armed with lots of sugary goodies to hand out at their Valentine’s Day party.
Instead, you can foster their creativity by having them come up with sugar-free alternatives!
*Give away decorative pencils with heart-shaped erasers.
*They can create personalized Valentine cards that list one or two great qualities about each classmate.
*Give them Valentine’s Day stickers to hand out to friends.
*They can pass out red rulers for each classmate that say “You Rule!”
This is a great opportunity for you and your family to bond while exercising your imaginations and protecting your teeth!
Schedule Your Family’s Next Check-Up!
We all have a responsibility to set our kids up for success, especially when it comes to their health.
With all the research out there showing the link between unhealthy teeth and gums and overall health, it’s more important than ever to model good dental habits.
That means monitoring their sugar intake.
Our team at Beck Dental Care is a family practice, and many of us are parents ourselves. We know how hard it can be to ration out the sweets at a time like Valentine’s Day. That’s why we hope you have peace of mind knowing we’re here to help!
With our support, skilled professionals, and advanced technology, we’re bringing you the best tools in dentistry to keep all the smiles in your family healthy!
It’s Children’s Dental Health Month, and our team at Beck Dental Care are excited to see your family at your next check-up! Call our Columbia, TN dental office today at (931) 388-8452 or fill out our
to schedule an appointment.