Sweet endings: How to maintain oral hygiene while enjoying Diwali sweets?

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Fight cavities, celebrate the festivities

The two most common issues that Dr Nameeta Hankare, who shares dental care tips and advice on @drnameetahankare, comes across during or after the festival months are tooth pain and sensitivity, often due to cavities. The sugar in starchy food, carbonated drinks, and the usual festival fare and sweets, along with existing bacteria or plaque in the mouth will give rise to acid production, which demineralises the enamel and leads to cavities, she notes.

Time to care for your pearly whites

The most common culprit these days for gum infections, says Dr Dhaval Thakare, owner of Dr Thakare's Dental Clinic, Malad West, are foods that aren't just limited to festive sweets but also highly processed and preservative-laden food, canned juices, energy drinks, cakes, cookies, jelly sweets and biscuits that are often served to guests. These have high sugar and acid content which are damaging to gums and teeth, and can lead to bleeding gums, swelling, pain, sensitivity and further affect cavities, making them grow bigger. He adds that often, the excess of salt, oil and ghee in rich food might not directly affect oral health but affect co-morbidities like diabetes, which in turn affects the gums. He believes that easy tips and routines (see right) can help maintain dental hygiene during the holidays.

The ultimate oral care guide

. Rinse your mouth after every meal to ensure no food remains stuck in your teeth for a long time.

. Maintain the basic but important routine of brushing twice a day, morning and night.

. Don't forget to floss. This will help combat gum-related diseases due to food particles stuck between your teeth.

. Eat fibrous food to clean your teeth of food and sugar particles that might be stuck.

. With hectic festive schedules, it might be difficult to brush your teeth after a meal and during the day. Opt for chewing gum without sugar to help keep the teeth clean. However, make sure you brush at night.

. Eat sweets with a meal instead of at the end of a meal or before sleeping so that sugar is not the last thing that remains on the teeth. Also, eat sweets in moderation.

. Use a mouthwash solution that contains fluoride to prevent cavities from growing.

. Sipping on green tea will add to antioxidant levels in the body and control gum issues.

Inputs by Dr Nameeta Hankare and Dr Dhaval Thakare