Delta Dental of Tennessee wants moviegoers to think twice while in line at the concession stand this summer. When eating treats at the beginning of the movie, the sugar will stay on the teeth throughout the remainder of the movie and until the next brushing. This causes a buildup of bacteria that can lead to cavities.

“It’s hard to resist a concession stand at the movie theatre and there’s nothing wrong with enjoying treats in moderation, but excessive consumption of sugar is a huge factor in tooth decay,” said Dr. Jed Jacobson, chief science officer for Delta Dental of Tennessee. “By making better choices in movie snacks, people can maintain a healthy and pain-free mouth.”

Before heading out to watch the latest blockbuster, Delta Dental has these tips to keep teeth healthy and shiny:

• Have a nutritious meal or snack prior to going to the movies to avoid overindulgence.
• Stick with candies that have sugar substitutes that are less harmful to teeth.
• Choose chocolates that melt quickly and are easy to brush away.
• Avoid long-lasting hard candies that cause an acid attack on the teeth the entire time they are in the mouth and for another 20 minutes after they have melted.
• Avoid gummy or sticky treats that may uproot fillings and damage dental work, as well as remain on teeth and gums for an extended period.
• Be careful of unpopped popcorn kernels; they may chip a tooth.
• After snacking, consider using a breath mint sweetened with mannitol, sorbitol or xylitol – natural sweeteners that have been proven to inhibit the growth of cavity-causing bacteria.
• Be sure to brush and floss well once you are home, being careful to remove any remaining popcorn hulls that may linger between your teeth and gums.

Delta Dental of Tennessee, with its affiliates in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio and Tennessee, is one of the largest dental plan administrators in the nation. In 2008, the enterprise paid out nearly $2.1 billion for dental care for more than 6.6 million enrollees. Offices are located in Okemos and Farmington Hills, Mich.; Indianapolis and Greenwood, Ind.; Louisville, Ky.; Albuquerque, N.M.; Columbus and Cleveland, Ohio; and Nashville, Knoxville and Memphis, Tenn.

To learn morn about how your diet affects your oral health, visit: http://www.ada.org/public/topics/diet.asp