Yes you do. It is disgusting, but true. In fact, you likely have 20 billion bacterial germs in your mouth right now and that bacteria reproduces every 5 hours! If you skip brushing your teeth for just one day, that number quickly increases to 100 billion!! A public public toilet seat only has 1,201 bacteria per square inch.
Yikes! We all fear letting our kids use a public toilet for all of the germs on the seat. Nobody wants to think about the fact that there is more bacteria in your mouth than a public toilet seat.
Bad news…
The bad news is that the bacteria in our mouths loves sugar and starch just as much as we and our kids do. There are 700 different strains of bacteria that can be found in a human mouth. The most common is streptococcus. Streptococcus feeds on sugar.
We all consume more sugar during the holidays. We have a pile form trick or treating!
With Halloween over and Christmas around the corner, there is bound to be more candy and sweets around our homes. The bacteria in our mouths feed on sugar and turns that sugar into acid. The acid breaks down tooth enamel and that can lead to tooth decay.
Good news…
The good news is that you can fight the 20 billion bacteria in your mouth from causing tooth decay by brushing after meals or at least twice a day and flossing at least once per day. By brushing and flossing, you are removing the source of food for bacteria in your mouth. Without food, that bacteria cannot reproduce.
It is good to wait 30 minutes after eating to brush your teeth to allow the pH levels in your mouth to balance.
My kids have piles of Halloween candy. This will be replaced with piles of Christmas candy soon. . .then Easter candy. . .your kids will eat candy this holiday season, there is no way around it. However, there are some sweets that are better for your teeth than others. Offer candy that doesn’t stick to your teeth instead of the hard, sticky candy like caramel and taffy. Don’t forget that sugar is found in most foods, not just candy. Even milk, bread, and fruit have sugar, so if you can’t brush right away, at least rinse your mouth with water. Tooth sealants can also help prevent tooth decay.
I like this video by Colgate. It is a great video to show your kids how to get rid of bacteria in their mouths. They call the bacteria ‘nasties’ and the girl in the video show kids how to get rid of nasties.
Consider showing this video to your kids as a reminder about how important it is to brush and floss their teeth.Check out these additional tips on how to keep kids brushing their teeth, even when you aren’t watching.
If you haven’t had a checkup lately, schedule one with your dentist and schedule one for your kids. Everyone should have a checkup twice a year. If you don’t have a pediatric dentist, I highly recommend my kids’ dentist, Dr. Adam Pollock D. D.S. Pediatric Dentistry.
The staff at Dr. Adam Pollock Pediatric Dentistry in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio is second to none. They are friendly, helpful, and professional in every manner.
Dr. Adam Pollock D. D.S. Pediatric Dentistry
1707 Portage Trail
Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44223
(330) 929-3091
Monday – Friday 8am – 5pm
Saturdays 9am – 1pm
Dr. Adam Pollock Pediatric Dentistry is conveniently located in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, just minutes from Akron, Stow, Munroe Falls, Kent, Hudson, Peninsula, Tallmadge, Ellet, Copley, and Fairlawn, Ohio.
Visit Dr. Adam Pollock Akron Pediatric Dentistry online and Like Dr. Adam Pollock Pediatric Dentistry on Facebook.
