en-us Copyright 2008 - All Rights Reserved. Fri, 24 May 2013 08:22:41 GMT 15 By Max Cawley
Unless one of things you’re “wishing” for this holiday season is cavities, gingivitis, or tooth decay, there are a couple things you should remember while munching down on candy canes, pumpkin pie and honey ham. As the food piles up on holiday plates, and children and adults alike feast on candy, sweet meats and exotic foods, the other thing “piling up” is the plaque on their teeth. The sugar from the overload of food attacks the teeth themselves, and the plaque from all that “nourishment” builds up. Plaque contains a very large number of bacteria which, if allowed, will begin to eat away at teeth. If left alone for too long, the bacteria will eat away at tooth enamel like a holiday feast. Eventually, this creates one or multiple small holes in the teeth called cavities, which cause a great amount of pain. “The worst part,” Dr. Alan Stover said, “is that most people don’t know what’s happening to them.” Unfortunately, most people have other things on the minds during the holidays. The tragic part of cavities is that they are almost 100 percent preventable. But because so many people are focusing on last-minute shopping, pleasing the in-laws, or ripping open presents, too many people don’t think twice about what and how much food they are consuming. So, while relaxing during this winter break, just remember to think about your teeth. Don’t forget that you’re eating food at a much faster pace and in much greater quantities, so in an optimum situation you should brush your teeth more than you normally would. Don’t forget to brush and floss, and think about what you’re eating before you eat it. “Just brush,” Dr. Stover said. “How easy is that?” ]]> Thu, 22 Dec 2005 15:35:00 GMT