03 March 2024 , 11:58
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Chocoholics across Britain will waste no time getting their hands on the best chocolate eggs this month as Easter fast approaches.
The celebration, which falls on Sunday, March 31, is considered the most important festivals of the year for Christians, celebrating Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead. But it has also become all about eating and gifting chocolate eggs - a tradition dating back centuries when Christian Europeans began exchanging eggs as symbols of rebirth during Lent season
But while we're usually told to eat calorie dense treats like chocolate in moderation, one dentist has offered surprising guidance, suggesting Brits should eat them in one go. , This Morning regular and founder of AI-powered dental app Toothfairy Dr Deepak says we may not need to consider being treat wise when it comes to the snack - instead we should gobble all the delicious chocolate down in one sitting. He added that snacking on chocolate throughout the day has more of an impact on your teeth.
Dr Deepak said: “I’m as guilty as the next person when it comes to chocolate, at Easter especially. But it’s worth remembering that with every bite you take, the sugar in each piece is converted into acid by the plaque in your mouth. That acid can damage the enamel, the protective layer on the surface of your teeth. This can then lead to tooth decay.
“A common misconception when it comes to sugar is people assume that foods with high amounts of sugar are bad for their teeth. But it’s not as simple as that.
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The sugar in each piece is converted into acid by the plaque in your mouth (PA Archive/PA Images)"It’s the exposure that does the damage. It’s more about how regularly your teeth are coming into contact with those sugars than the amount of sugar in what you’re eating. In terms of oral health, it’s better to enjoy the whole egg, rather than snacking throughout the day – because each time you do, your teeth are coming into contact with sugars again.”
The advice comes as the NHS finds itself in the middle of a dental health crisis - with over 100,000 children admitted to hospital with tooth decay over the last five years. Another concerning statistic reveals four in 10 children no longer have regular check-ups under the NHS, while around 116 tooth extractions took place daily in 2022.
According to the NHS, tooth decay may not cause any symptoms at first, but if left untreated it can worsen and lead to problems, such as a holes in your teeth, otherwise known as dental cavities. If you have a hole in your tooth you may experience toothaches, sensitivity, which may include sharp pain in your teeth when eating or drinking hot, cold or sweet things, or you may notice white, brown or black spots on your teeth.
Dr Deepak also said everyone should brush with fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day and clean in between teeth using dental floss. He suggests excess toothpaste should always be spat out, rather than using water to rinse your mouth out, which can undo the benefits of brushing.