Sugar bug season is in full swing!
‘Tis the season for an abundance of cookies and other sugary goodies within arms reach at all times. We love cookies! Gingerbread cookies, sugar cookies, peanut butter cookies, chocolate chip cookies… they’re all great. However, they’re not so great for our teeth and gums (insert mental image of Debbie Downer here).
“Chocolate chip cookie important to me… it mean whole lot to me… Om Nom Nom Nom.”
~Cookie Monster
Sugar = Cavities.
Bacteria, fondly called “Sugar Bugs” love sugar. They feed off of it, producing acid as a by-product. If we aren’t brushing and flossing at least two times daily, the bacteria and acid multiply, causing cavities and gingivitis. Why does sugar have to be so bad for our oral health!?
Floss for health & sugar bug reduction.
Almost everyone brushes their teeth daily. If you’re one of the millions of people who skip the floss, you’re not alone. According to a CDC survey, nearly 50% of American adults have periodontal (gum) disease and would rather go to the grocery store than floss.
“I just never got in the habit.” ~Half of all adults
There are always those one or two people who actually enjoy flossing. For most of us, it’s not something we necessarily look forward to. A national survey found that 36% of adults would rather do an unpleasant activity than floss. Hate is a strong word, but adults do a lot of things they don’t like—taking out the garbage, cleaning toilets, doing laundry, flossing, etc. Maybe we’ll all make a new year’s resolution to take care of our oral health better than we ever have! We’ll floss every single day!
Resolutions don’t always stick.
Even with the best intentions, resolutions don’t always stick. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you miss a day here and there, just try to pick it back up as soon as you remember. Gingivitis, in its earliest stages, can be reversed. The longer you wait, the more potential for red, swollen gums to turn into advanced gum disease. We’ve all heard our dentist or dental hygienist say we need to floss. Some of us dread hearing it, because we know, we know. None of us are perfect, but those who make the mindset to floss daily have healthier mouths.
Dental Fact: Healthy gums don’t bleed
If your gums bleed a little, just keep flossing and rinsing. The more you brush along the gum line & floss, the healthier they’ll become. Just think, every time you floss you’re doing something that’s good for yourself!
Dental Tip: No time to floss during the day? Drink & swish with water between meals (and cookies). Not only is it healthy for you to drink more water, it helps to reduce sugar & acid!
When we’re poking around your gums, it’s not to be mean or Grinch-like. It’s our job to assess your gums and oral health—and, we genuinely want the best for you and your teeth! Let us know if you have any areas where food gets stuck or bleeds more than usual. Enjoy your favorite sugary treats, just be sure to take a few extra minutes each night to brush & floss away those sugar bugs!
Have a beautiful, sweet, holiday season everyone!