I don’t want to alarm you but Australian families were expected to spend $152.9 million on sugar treats this Easter.
That $ amount equates to about 124.3 million Easter treats consumed over the Easter holiday period. With Easter eggs and hot cross buns appearing in stores pretty much as soon as Christmas was over, it’s very hard not to give in to temptation.
“We’re all guilty of indulging over Easter – But with the world daily average consumption of sugar per person now at 17 teaspoons – up 45 per cent from 30 years ago – it’s important we practice good oral hygiene, especially during sugar filled occasions such as Easter. This can be as simple as using a sugar acid neutralising toothpaste, which will prevent tooth decay and long term damage” – Dr. Sue Cartwright, Scientific Affairs Manager, Colgate Oral Care.
Dr Cartwright may have a point, but avoiding sugar all together is probably the best prevention. Whilst I try extremely hard to limit my sugar intake it’s hard to deny my kids treats during Easter. I think I would have a mutiny if I said..
“Why not have a carrot instead of that Easter egg, after all that’s what the Easter bunny eats”
….nice try Mum.
Some research from Colgate suggests it’s not just Easter Sunday we indulge. In 2014 53% of the Easter treats eaten by kids and 72% of the treats eaten by parents were eaten before the Easter period had begun!
But it’s not just kids who love the sweet stuff, with 68% of parents admitting to ‘poaching’ their kids sugary treats in the lead up to Easter. That equates to the thievery of 46.8 million treats over the Easter period. I’ll admit it, I’ve been known to swipe an egg or two 🙂
What’s surprising is the research also showed a lack of understanding amongst parents around how kids should be consuming their Easter treats. We give the kids a tupperware container each, which they put all their eggs in, then we ration them out as treats. Apparently this may not be the best idea when it comes to preventing tooth decay.
“In regards to oral health, it is best to consume sugary foods at mealtimes and not to snack continuously – even if the amount of sugar consumed at one time is higher – it’s better than spreading out consumption” – Dr. Sue Cartwright, Scientific Affairs Manager, Colgate Oral Care.
I have explained to my kids what eating the wrong foods can do to your entire body, including your teeth, but even so it’s a hard task excluding ‘sweetness’ from kids given it’s hidden in nearly everything we eat (particularly if your diet contains a lot of processed foods).
Just before Easter, Colgate sent our family a little reminder about how to prevent tooth decay… in the shape of a tooth pinnata. Colgate Maximum Cavity Protection plus Sugar Acid Neutraliser is a great toothpaste which reduces early decay by half. We have been using it for a while now.
The wonderful news is that it’s now available in a Junior version specially designed for children over the age of six. It’s available in an 80g pack for $2.99 and has a mild minty flavour which my kids seems to like. This is the first and only family toothpaste with unique Sugar Acid Neutraliser technology that directly fights sugar acids in plaque – the number one cause of cavities.
The kids had a blast bashing the pinnata and inside we found some great tips for good oral hygiene plus some yummy easter treats.
So remember to:
- Brush twice a day. Brush after the last food/drink has been consumed each day and one other time
- Don’t rush. Take your time and do a thorough job. Brushing should take around two minutes each time (my electric tooth brush has a timer!)
- Help out your little ones. For kids under eight, make sure you assist them with brushing
- Go soft. Always opt for a brush with soft or extra soft bristles for all family members
- Set a good example. Kids are always watching what their parents do, so make sure you follow the rules!
