My BEST Dentists Journal

All Journal Entries
Share

How To Look After Your Teeth After Eating Honey

Honey is very sweet and succulent; it is delicious! However, it does contain sugar. Therefore, it is important that you take care of your teeth so that you can enjoy eating the honey.

When we consume anything that contains sugar, bacterium in our mouths ferment these sugars and create an acidic product. This acidic product can cause demineralization of our tooth surfaces. This means that the enamel that coats your teeth can get broken down, exposing the yellow dentine. This can lead to tooth sensitivity. But do not worry! I shall give you some top tips to prevent this from happening so that you can enjoy your treat!

It is important to understand that the acid produced can lower the pH in your mouth. And only when the pH is lowered to below 5.5, is when the demineralization of your teeth starts to occur. My first top tip to prevent this from happening is eat the honey in one sitting. By enjoying the pure honey in one go, and not eating anything else that is sugary for the next 30 minutes, you are allowing enough time for the pH to recover and increase again back to the healthy level of pH 6.7. It is only when you keep consuming the honey, every 5-10 minutes, that they pH does not have a chance to recover and will reach pH 5.5. So, enjoy your honey in one sitting, and refrain from eating anything else that is sugary for the next 30 minutes! Eating the honey during a meal, along with other foods can also protect your teeth more than eating it alone!

My second tip for you all is to avoid brushing your teeth straight after eating honey. A common misconception is that people think it is good to brush their teeth straight after consuming sugary foods, however, this is incorrect! After eating sugar, the enamel on your teeth is slightly softer and weaker due to the acidic fermentation products produced by the bacteria. Therefore, it is best to wait at least 30-40minutes before brushing your teeth, as any hard friction caused by a toothbrush whilst the enamel is softer may actually erode the enamel away, increasing the risk of tooth decay and sensitivity! So make sure you relax for  30-40 minutes after eating the honey, put your feet up!

My third top tip for you is to use fluoridated tooth paste when brushing your teeth. Many researchers, including research by the World Health Organisation, has proven that fluoride ions help to keep the enamel on your teeth strong, as it remineralizes them. This prevents tooth decay and improves the health of your teeth. Aim to brush twice a day; once in the morning and once in the evening. Make sure you do not rinse your mouth with water after brushing, as this allows the fluoride from the toothpaste to remain on your teeth so that it can work its magic!

By understanding the biological structure of our teeth and the chemical processes that occur when we eat sugar, we can adapt our daily habits to ensure that we can enjoy our honey without worrying about destroying our teeth. So make sure you keep cleaning and enjoy eating!

(02/07/2023)
by HoneyBee & co

More Information: https://honeybeeandco.uk/how-to-look-after-your-teeth-after-eating-honey/

Views: 356
Share


My BEST Dentists Journal Headlines