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Whether for religious or purely personal reasons, Lent for many is both a time of reflection as well as a time of year in which we traditionally abstain from something for a month, often with a view to improving our health in the process. And given our tendency to overindulge on Pancake day, sweet snacks are often top of the list of things to give up. With a little strategic planning, you can use Lent to make some simple changes to your habits that will not just help your health in general, but will also benefit your teeth.

Chocolate

One of the most popular foods to abstain from in Lent is chocolate. When it comes to your teeth, there is absolutely no doubt that the majority of chocolates, given their high sugar content, are better off avoided. If you find yourself getting your sugar hit from chocolate, why not see if you can do a month without? If you can’t quite bring yourself to do it (we feel you), there’s always the option of switching to a low sugar, dark chocolate instead.

Sweets

It goes without say that sweets are another great choice for your annual period of abstinence. Sticky, sugary sweets tend to leave residue in the harder to reach gaps in your teeth, causing high levels of acid build-up which can wreak havoc on your teeth and gums and lead to no end of problems, especially tooth decay.

Crisps

Believe it or not, some savoury snacks are just as bad when it comes to oral hygiene as sweet treats. Crisps, for example, tend to cling to those parts of the teeth that cannot be easily reached with your tongue. Whilst the starchy leftovers themselves don’t directly cause decay, they tend to provide an ideal environment in which other acid-creating particles can take hold and therefore increase the risk of acid-related tooth decay notably if consumed on a regular basis.

Cigarettes

Of course, it’s not just food that people chose to abstain from. For many, Lent is a great time to have a go at giving up cigarettes. Aside from the well-documented benefits to your overall health and wellbeing that stopping smoking offers, there are also tremendous benefits for your teeth and gums. Not only do the chemicals present in cigarette smoke cause harm and staining to the teeth, the reduction in oxygenated blood in circulation also means that it can take significantly longer for your gums to heal after dental surgery and reduce the effectiveness of some treatments.

A final note

Please do remember that as dentists we can only offer advice from an oral health perspective – before making any adjustments to your diet, whether temporary or permanent, it is recommended that you seek advice from a properly accredited nutritionist or dietician.

For more advice on how you can help to keep your teeth in tip-top condition, why not book an appointment now with one of the expert dentists or hygienists here at Sharoe Green Dental Practice in Preston. We welcome enquiries and bookings by telephone on 01772 804430 as well as via our convenient online contact form available here. New patient? Book a new patient consultation now for just £25, redeemable against treatment.