The State Fair Of Texas Is Back! Here Is Our List Of The Worst Fair Foods For Your Teeth

The State Fair is one of the biggest and most iconic events in Texas.  It is opening weekend, and fairgoers will be lining up in droves to sample some of the most creative culinary concoctions to ever hit a deep fryer.  Topping the menu of deep fried delicacies this year is Deep Fried Thanksgiving Dinner, the Deep Fried Cuban Roll, and Loaded Avocado Crispy Fries. 

Fair Food is good, but not for teeth!

While sampling all this greasy goodness is 99% of the reason we all visit the State Fair every year, keep in mind that some fair foods can be really bad for your teeth!  Pack a toothbrush if you plan to enjoy the following:

Caramel Apples and Candy Apples:  the sugary candy sticks to your teeth, feeding bacteria for hours and promoting tooth decay

Funnel Cakes:  sugar and carbohydrates combine to create the perfect storm.  Carbohydrates break down into sugars too- it doesn’t have to stick to your teeth to cause tooth decay.

Sodas:  Switching from regular to diet won’t help when it comes to this thirst quencher.  Sodas are very acidic, even diet sodas.  Sipping on a soda for an afternoon bathes your teeth in acid, weakening tooth enamel and promoting tooth decay. 

Cotton Candy:  Ummm, yeah.  For the same reasons as the candied apples, avoid this treat or eat then brush! This goes double for deep fried bubble gum!

While it can be very difficult to find fair food that is good for your teeth, better choices are out there.  Chocolate is always a good choice because it melts, spending less time on tooth surfaces.  Ice cream and treats that are not sticky are better options as well. 

The best advice when it comes to food at the State Fair of Texas is to go ahead and indulge!  Eat what you want, but make a pit stop for a little dental hygiene after each sampling.  Some products to pack if you don’t want to be weighed down with a toothbrush and toothpaste, try a portable product like the Colgate™ Wisp or at the very least some sugarless gum. 

Go out and Enjoy the Greatest State Fair in the USA!  The team at Forest Lane Dental would really appreciate it if someone brought them back a corny dog!

Alcohol and Sleep Apnea Do Not Mix Well

If you suffer with sleep apnea, drinking alcohol can pose a dangerous threat.  Sleep apnea patients experience collapse of the airway during sleep, which causes prolonged lapses in normal breathing.  When oxygen is not exchanged properly, blood oxygen saturation levels decline, leading to numerous complications including high blood pressure, stroke and heart attack.  Alcohol use may exaggerate airway problems in sleep apnea, causing more frequent and deeper lapses in normal breathing. 

Alcohol’s Effect On Sleep

Alcohol acts as a depressant, and has the effect of narrowing the airway due to relaxation of the muscles in the upper airway.  When this occurs, the airway can collapse, causing an apneic (without breath) episode.  Additionally, alcohol can disrupt the sleep cycles essential to normal sleep, shortening the essential cycles of sleep and disrupting the duration of sleep.  Sleep deprivation caused by alcohol consumption, even in people without OSA (obstructive sleep apnea) can lead to serious problems.

·         Depressive disorders

·         Reduced alertness

·         Daytime sleepiness

·         Increased episodes of apnea

·         Longer lasting episodes of apnea

Best Advice For Sleep Apnea Patients

The best advice for sleep apnea patients is to avoid alcohol use at all, especially within 6 hours of bedtime.  Studies show that sleep disturbances persist, even after the alcohol has been metabolized out of the body.  Using a custom oral appliance for sleep apnea, such as those available from Dr. Jack E. Burroughs, can help reduce the risk of prolonged episodes of apnea. 

For more information about diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea and snoring, contact us.