There are certain times of the year such as, of course, Easter when eating well and observing good oral health practices becomes that much more difficult than normal.
With the Easter Bunny handing out chocolate eggs left, right and centre, and sugary temptation just a short hop away in the form of food like hot cross buns, it's a great idea for everyone, not just kids, to stick to some healthier alternatives to look ensure good oral health is maintained.
It becomes even more of a priority when you consider that Australia's Oral Health Tracker Children and Young People 2018 reveals that just under 35% of children aged 5-6 years have experienced decay in their primary teeth and just over 23 percent of children aged 6-14 years have had tooth decay in their permanent teeth.
Adults don't fare much better with the adult version of the Tracker showing that just over 32% of people aged over 15 suffer from untreated tooth decay and almost 48% are consuming too much free sugar (defined as sugar added to food and drinks or sugar that is already in honey, syrup and fruit juice).
The good news is that there are lots of creative ways to reduce the holiday sugar hit such as these simple guidelines:
- Try restricting chocolate eggs and sugary treats to mealtimes rather than snacking on them between meals, which reduces the time teeth are exposed to acid attacks.
- Pair chocolate treats with water drinks to help rinse the sticky chocolate from the teeth and mouth.
- Look for less sugar-dense options – for example, dark chocolate, which sometimes can have up to 1/3 less sugar than milk chocolate.
- Have a sugar break before and after Easter by limiting the intake of processed snack foods such as muesli bars and baked goods. It also pays to be aware of foods containing hidden sugars, many of which are sold as healthy snacks.
So, kids don't feel like they're missing out, it's a great idea to have some small toys and inedible treats such as skipping rope, frisbee or bat and ball set that encourage movement on hand to give out over the long weekend.
You can also keep children occupied with Easter-themed art and craft activities or use decorative wooden or paper eggs in the Easter egg hunt, with perhaps just one chocolate egg at the end to celebrate.
As at any other time of the year, keep on top of your oral health by brushing twice daily, flossing at least once, eating and drinking healthily and seeing your dentist regularly. For trusted oral health information from dental experts across Australia, go to teeth.org.au
The ADA wishes everyone a happy and safe Easter.
