It’s Easter time!  For most of us, that means hot cross buns, Easter eggs, a long weekend and time with family and friends.  While the time off and quality time spent with loved ones is always welcomed, the impacts of all that sugar on our teeth (and waist lines) is not so much!

There are some strategies we can consider to keep the damage to a minimum, especially for our kids, who tend to be on the receiving end of a plethora of chocolate and sweets!  it is important for us to consider the very real impact of a particularly sugar laden period of indulgence, as statistics show that over one third of 5-6 year olds have experienced dental decay in their baby teeth, and almost one quarter of 6-14 year olds have had decay in their adult teeth.

So, with these sobering figures in mind, let’s unpack a couple of tips to get the kids (and the big kids) through Easter, teeth intact!

1.            Aim for sweets to be consumed at meal times, along with a drink of water to wash the sugar from the teeth.  Snacking on sugary treats throughout the day creates an environment for the bacteria in plaque to thrive, increasing the risk of tooth decay.

2.            Plain chocolate, rather than the kinds with sticky bits of honeycomb, caramel or nougat are best, as they are less likely to get stuck in the deep fissures of the teeth.

3.            Toothbrushing with fluoridated toothpaste morning and night is even more important than ever!  Set a timer for 2 minutes of brushing, and don’t rinse your mouth after brushing – this leaves a protective film of fluoride on the teeth.

4.            There are plenty of other non-sugar related activities that the kids can enjoy at Easter time!  By placing the kids energies on fun arts and crafts such as Easter bonnets or egg shell decorating, we can encourage healthy attitudes to the holiday.  Everyone loves an Easter egg hunt – how about decorating wooden or paper eggs for the hunt, with a single chocolate egg as a reward at the end?

As with most things in life, enjoying our treats at Easter time is all about balance.  With a bit of mindfulness, we can all enjoy a time of fun and relaxation with family and friends without the sugar rush, expanding waistline or expensive trip to the dentist down the line.  Enjoy!