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5 Ways to Eat Like a Dentist

We talked to Dr. Euan Swan, manager of dental programs at the Canadian Dental Association in Ottawa, about eating strategies that dentists use to keep their teeth in tip-top shape.

By Jaclyn Law

1. Don't Eat Too Much Candy and Dessert

It’s common knowledge that sugar contributes to tooth decay. What many people don’t know, however, is that the frequency and duration of exposure makes a difference.

ìI enjoy desserts, chocolate cake and all those things, within moderation, but then I make sure that after the meal I rinse my mouth with water or chew a piece of sugarless gum,î says Dr. Swan, who acknowledges that brushing after every meal and snack is not realistic for most people. ìWhen you have sugars in your mouth, bacteria digests those sugars and produces acids. It’s the duration of the acid attack that contributes to tooth decay.î

If you like candy, minimize the damage to your teeth by eating it quickly, rather than spreading it throughout your day, says Dr. Swan. ìGenerally speaking, having one candy in your mouth for several minutes is not the end of the world, but having one and then another and another over a long period of time would an issue.

Tags: teeth. | oral health | healthy living | health | dentist

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