Dentists offer egg-cellent advice on Easter chocolate

Dentists have offered some advice for Australians so they can have their Easter eggs and eat them too.

Sugary temptation is but a hop away for chocolate lovers of all ages, so the Australian Dental Association (ADA) says sensible consumption of chocolate over Easter is even more of a priority given 34 per cent of children aged 5 to 6 have experienced decay in their primary or baby teeth, and 24 per cent of children aged 6 to 14 have had tooth decay in their permanent teeth.

Adults do not fare much better with Australia’s Adult Oral Health Tracker showing nearly a third of people over 15 suffer from untreated tooth decay and 48 per cent are consuming too much free sugar, or sugar added to food and drinks or sugar in honey, syrup and fruit juice.

“We don’t like to rabbit on about this too much because who doesn’t love a bit of chocolate now and then? But all things in moderation will see you through this time of choccy indulgence,” ADA president Dr Chris Sanzaro said.

“The good news is that there are lots of creative ways to reduce the holiday sugar hit such as these simple guidelines from the ADA, so your mouth is not an Easter casualty.”

The ADA’s advice includes:

• Try restricting chocolate eggs and sugary treats to mealtimes rather than snacking on them between meals. This is because the saliva produced to help digest larger quantities of food also cleanses and buffers mouth pH from acids in food and drink
• Pair chocolate treats with drinks of water to help swish away chocolate residue from the mouth
• Look for less sugar-dense options such as dark chocolate, which can have up to a third less sugar than milk chocolate
• Have a sugar break before and after Easter by limiting the intake of processed snack foods such as muesli bars and baked goods. It also pays (all year round) to be aware of foods containing hidden sugars, many of which are sold as ‘healthy’ snacks
• It is a great idea to have some small toys and inedible treats such as a skipping rope, frisbee or bat and ball set that encourage movement, to give out over the long weekend, and
• Keep young ones occupied with Easter-themed art and craft activities or use decorative wooden or paper eggs in the Easter egg hunt, with perhaps just one chocolate egg at the end to celebrate.

“Observe these simple rules and kids big and small in your family won’t feel like they’re missing out,” Dr Sanzaro said.

As at any other time of the year, keep on top of your oral health by brushing twice daily, flossing at least once a day, eating and drinking healthily and hop along to see your dentist regularly.

For more information from dental experts, including tips on brushing and flossing, head to teeth.org.au