This year, lets make it your goal to not have green teeth. Why? Across the country on the day after St. Patrick’s Day, dentists see a 64% increase in emergency dental visits.
Saint Patrick’s Day in on Sunday, March 17 this year which means it’s a full weekend event. Friday school parties and weekend celebrations give your kids plenty of time to stain their teeth green. You can help them avoid green teeth though!
We included a few St. Patrick’s day facts for you to share with your kids.
Don’t “Wear the Green” on Your Teeth
Wearing green, usually a green shirt, is tradition for St. Patrick’s Day. It started way back by pinning shamrocks or green ribbons to clothing. Now restaurants celebrate with turning their food green.
Fact 1: If, by chance, one did happen to find a mystical pot at the end of a rainbow this St. Patrick’s Day, and it contained 1,000 gold coins weighing one ounce each, estimated total current worth at $1.26 million.
Green Stains on Teeth
What causes it?
Food coloring. You can still be festive without the food coloring added to everything and we recommend it for the health of your teeth.
Fact 2: Corned beef and cabbage are traditional foods eaten on this holiday.
Dental Prevention
If a Shamrock Shake is your families tradition, be sure to follow it up with brushing. The sooner, the better.
Fact 3: For every “lucky” four-leaf clover there are approximately 10,000 three-leaf clovers.
Make sure your kids have been in for a teeth cleaning and schedule an appointment if you haven’t already.
Parents: Watch out For the Green Beer
Fact 4 (For Parents): Approximately 13 million pints of Guinness is consumed worldwide on St. Patrick’s Day.
The Green beer is most likely the biggest factor in the increase in emergency dental visits for the day after St. Patrick’s day.
Happy St. Patrick’s day and good luck keeping you and your kid’s teeth white and not green!