Don't let the festive food-indulgence harm your teeth: Here's what you can do

Dr. Ajay Kakkar

Diwali is that time of the year when everyone indulges in festive treats. It is the time when we let loose our inhibitions to enjoy every moment.

However, all the excessive eating and drinking can take it’s toll on our teeth and lead to tooth sensitivity, caries and other oral health related problems.

But it doesn’t always have to be an either-or situation. You don't have to give up on sweets and desserts, rather just follow a few simple steps and measures that can make binge-eating even more enjoyable :

- Sweet teeth need special care:

You can never think of Diwali without mithais and sweet treats. But if these treats at times give your teeth a short sharp twinge, it's because of sensitivity.

However, this is not a huge cause of worry. Just a simple switch to specialist sensitivity toothpaste can help.



- Let the sweets come first:

Sweets directly don't cause tooth decay, they are sticky and that is what leads to the tooth caries. At times, even rinsing the mouth is not sufficient to get rid of the sugary remains in the mouth.

Eating desserts prior to your main meal can help in reducing the risk of the sweets sticking to the teeth.

- Stay away from coloured foods:

Avoid food that is high on artificial colouring and preservatives. This can stain your teeth, and the acid in the preservatives promote bacteria.

Switch to a teeth whitening toothpaste can also help.

- Drink a lot of water:

- Keep yourself hydrated. Drink a lot of water and fresh juices at small intervals. Drinking water before a meal gives you a feeling of fullness and prevents you from over-indulging. Drinking water after meals helps flush off the food residue, cleans your mouth and avoids plaque formation on your teeth.

- Twice a day everyday:

While you treat yourselves to mithai and chocolates, don’t forget to brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day.

- The author is a dentist, periodontist and implantologist.


Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of www.economictimes.com.