Summer Treats Can Hurt Your Teeth

 

As we gear up for summer, there are many ways to beat the heat:  Swimming, Camping, Jumping through a sprinkler, Chasing the ice cream truck.  Remember that while enjoying a refreshing cool snack such as ice cream, slurpees, sodas, freezies, there is just a few things to remember as some of these snacks may not be the best for your oral health.  Also, learn how you can help offset the damage.

Sugary Ice Cream Can Cause Tooth Decay

Dairy products, like ice cream, can be a good source of calcium.  Unfortunately, most ice creams are made with lots of sugar, one of the leading causes of tooth decay.  When buying ice cream, we suggest buying sugar-free or low-sugar ice cream.  However, if your child wants regular ice cream, there are a few ways to minimize the impact the sugar has on the teeth.

• Brush teeth after eating ice cream or rinse with water or mouth wash.  This will help get some of the sticky sugars off the enamel.
• Avoid ice cream with extras like caramel or syrup
• Eat ice cream at the end of a meal.

Sodas Erode Tooth Enamel

Are sodas bad for my teeth?  Yes, they are!  The acids in sodas start to eat away at the enamel on your teeth only 20 minutes after your first drink.  Plus, the extra calories provide no nutritional value.  We recommend substituting a sugar filled soda with water to quench your thirst on the hot days.