The Tribune

KEEPING YOUR MOUTH ALIVE:

By Dr Andre Clarke“All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth, my two front teeth, see my two front teeth!”

This is the first verse of a very popular Christmas song written in 1944.  Donald Yetter Gardner penned the song “All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth”, in about thirty (30) minutes and since then, it has been on the tips of our tongues for many years.  It is my hope that this song does not apply to any of the readers of this column; unless of course they are in second (2nd) grade.  

It is tragic to lose front teeth for any reason, but it is especially tragic, to lose them as a result of cavities (rotten teeth).  Please remember that it is necessary to care for the mouth everyday throughout the year, but it is even more necessary to be vigilant during the Christmas season.

Why is it necessary to be more vigilant during the Christmas season?  It is because the temptation to overeat is greatest at this time of the year.  Eating lots of sweets and starchy foods is not good for the body’s and the mouth’s health.  It is important to always eat a balanced diet, in order to ensure that the correct amounts of vitamins and minerals gain entry into the body. 

It is always best not to overeat, especially sweets and starch.  

Anecdotally, not cleaning the mouth daily occurs quite often in those that overeat.  In the overeating population, it seems that cleaning the mouth adequately daily, is not paramount.  Therefore, at this time of the year, when overeating predominates, the tendency not to brush and floss also predominates.  Please do not give in to the temptation to mistreat the mouth.  The mouth should be kept as clean as possible, and the consumption of sweets and starchy foods monitored.

Benny cake, peanut cake, coconut cake, fruit cake and pound cake and duff are a few of the more popular Christmas foods Bahamians and persons living in The Bahamas, enjoy and commonly over indulge on.  These foods when left on the surfaces of the teeth, for an extended period of time, will create an opportunity for bacteria in the mouth, to produce acid to dissolve the teeth. 

An excess of steamed crawfish; crawfish stuffing; sodas, vitamalt and juices will also create an environment for the bacteria to cause the destruction of the teeth.  

Please remember, it is not only sweets, but any food sitting in the mouth for a long time will cause bad things to happen.  Therefore, brushing and flossing, along with the use of a mouthwash, twice daily, is still necessary during this holiday season.  Brush and brush; floss and floss; and swish and swish.  

The abovementioned advice will serve you well.  It will not only keep your smile alive, but as emphasized in the last verse of the Mr Gardner’s song:

“Gee, if I could only have my two front teeth, then I could wish you “Merry Christmas!”

Please have an enjoyable holiday season and keep that floss in your pocket.  It will help you keep those front teeth.  

This article is for informational purposes only.  It is not intended and may not be treated as, a substitute for professional medical/dental advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a physician or dental professional with any questions you may have regarding a medical/dental condition. Never disregard professional medical/dental advice or delay in seeking it because of a purely informational publication.

Copyright © 2012 by Dr. Andre R. Clarke.  All rights reserved. Reproduction of this article, in whole or in part, is prohibited without written permission.  If you have questions, please send email to dr_andreclarke@hotmail.com.

Dr. André R. Clarke, DDS, MBBS Special Care Dentistry