NASHVILLE, March 31 (UPI) -- Eating too much Easter candy and not brushing will cause plaque to linger and expose the teeth to bacterial byproducts causing decay, a U.S. dentist says.
Richard Shin, a dentist and assistant professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, said Easter candy can leave bacteria that cause tooth decay and gingivitis in the mouth. Children who are not diligent in brushing their teeth may have significantly more plaque -- where bacteria makes its home -- on their tooth surface, he said.
Shin suggests supervising children so they aim the toothbrush bristles around the gums where the plaque is most common, making sure that they brush the whole mouth, including the insides of teeth, and that they spend at least 7 to 8 seconds going back and forth per tooth.
