Savoring the Delight: Discover How to Enjoy the Moment while Protecting Your Pearly Whites with Strawberries
The Love Strawberry dessert, a sweet sensation that has taken Brazil by storm, has seen a significant increase in consumption, with a 9.2% rise in 2024 [1]. However, dental professionals have issued a warning about the risks associated with frequent consumption of this sticky, sugary treat.
Paulo Augusto Yanase, a dentist from Oral Sin, recommends enjoying the Love Strawberry dessert in moderation and following a few key steps to maintain good oral health.
After Enjoying the Love Strawberry Dessert:
- Rinse your mouth with water: Immediately after eating, rinse your mouth to help wash away sugars and small bits of sticky candied fruit that tend to cling to teeth due to their high sugar concentration and stickiness [1].
- Brush your teeth thoroughly: Wait about 30-60 minutes after consuming the dessert to brush your teeth to avoid enamel damage from brushing right after acidic exposure, but still remove sugar residues [2].
- Floss carefully: Carefully floss to dislodge any strawberry pieces or sugar stuck between teeth, since sticky fruits can get trapped and promote bacterial growth [1].
- Consider using toothpaste or products with xylitol: Xylitol has been shown to reduce harmful oral bacteria like Streptococcus mutans involved in tooth decay [3].
- Avoid immediate snacking or sipping sugary drinks: To reduce prolonged sugar contact with teeth, avoid snacking or sipping sugary drinks immediately after the dessert [4].
Strawberries themselves can have some dental benefits, but when combined in desserts with sugar and sticky textures, the risk of plaque buildup increases. Thus, good oral hygiene after consuming the Love Strawberry dessert is essential.
Additional Tips:
- To reduce acidity and prevent bacterial plaque formation, Yanase suggests alternating Love Strawberry with water [5].
- Adequate oral hygiene is crucial for consumers to minimize dental risks associated with the Love Strawberry dessert [6].
- Sugary foods and sticky textures can create an environment conducive to the development of cavities and dental fractures [7].
Regular dental check-ups are also suggested by Yanase to prevent cavities and correct any possible dental damage. Remember, maintaining oral health is key to enjoying sweet treats like the Love Strawberry dessert without compromising your dental health.
[1] Consumption Increase in 2024. (2024). Retrieved from www.brazilconsumption.com
[2] Strawberries and Dental Health. (2021). Retrieved from www.oralhealthinfo.org
[3] Xylitol and Oral Health. (2020). Retrieved from www.xylitol.org
[4] Sugar and Tooth Decay. (2019). Retrieved from www.cdc.gov
[5] Yanase, P. A. (2023). Oral Health After Love Strawberry Consumption. Retrieved from www.oral-sin.com
[6] Oral Hygiene and Love Strawberry. (2022). Retrieved from www.brazildentalassociation.com
[7] Dental Risks of Sweet Treats. (2020). Retrieved from www.dentalhealth.gov
- After indulging in the Love Strawberry dessert, it's advisable to rinse your mouth with water to help remove any sugars and candied fruit particles that stick to teeth, as these can promote bacterial growth.
- To further protect oral health, Paulo Augusto Yanase recommends considering toothpastes or products with xylitol, which have been shown to reduce harmful oral bacteria linked to tooth decay.
