BBQ season is upon us! That means steaks, ribs, potatoes, hamburgers, hot dogs, corn on the cob, endless pasta salads and coleslaw – and a frosty beverage with friends and loved ones. It can also mean gum irritation, tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease as many of these foods can create problems for your teeth and gums.
This may sound shocking, but, the first time your gums are tender the day after eating corn on the cob, brisket, or ribs, it will start to make sense. A lot of these foods get jammed in between your teeth, which will feed bacteria and irritate your gums.
What can you do? See what your D.C. dentist has to share!
Corn on the cob is also another guilty party of getting stuck in between teeth. Corn contains a decent amount of sugars and will also feed the bacteria for many, many hours if not removed promptly.
Do yourself a favor and carry floss with you when you attend a barbeque this summer!
Do your ribs and pulled meats have barbeque sauce on them? Another reason to brush after a good barbeque meal is because barbeque sauce is packed with sugar. Chances are that the frosty beverage you are sipping on contains a host of sugars as well!
Make sure you brush after s’mores, too! The sweet chocolate and sticky marshmallow can be a powerful combination to keep the bad bacteria happy for a long time.