122 HAWAII PARENT NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 The holidays are here. And that means the peppermint candy canes, colorful gumdrops, star-shaped sprinkles on the frosted cupcakes, and every other imaginable sweet treat will be calling out to keiki and their parents at parties and potlucks. Even the pieces of candy to make the gingerbread house may prove to be too tempting. But no one likes to be reminded that too much sugar is bad for our teeth. So, what are some practical ways we can enjoy holiday treats without compromising our oral health and start the new year without a mouthful of cavities? A Mini-Science Lesson on Tooth Decay It helps to understand the science of tooth decay. Cavities start when acid is produced from plaque that builds up on our teeth. Sugar serves as food for the bacteria in the plaque that produces the damaging acid. When we allow sugar to linger on our teeth, it gives more time for bacteria in our mouths to produce the acid that harms our teeth. This acid slowly dissolves by Di Salas, Hawaii Dental Service
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