It’s the time of year for spooky thrills and chills, but don’t let scary cavities and tooth decay be a problem for you and your family. With Halloween approaching, it’s important to know how to keep teeth healthy this holiday season. Read on for tips on how to avoid cavities this Halloween.
Stick to Tooth-Friendly Treats
We know everyone looks forward to eating their favorite sweets this time of year. But sweet treats are harmful to teeth. That’s because sugar feeds the bacteria in the mouth and cause them to multiply. This creates an acidic environment that breaks down the enamel, or outer layer of the teeth. That’s when cavities can form. For this reason, we recommend eating and giving out tooth-friendly treats. Sugar free candy, pencils, stickers, and glow-in-the-dark jewelry are all kids’ favorites that won’t harm teeth!
Make Halloween Dinner a Priority
If you’re planning on trick-or-treating this year with your kids or attending a Halloween party, be sure to eat a nutritious dinner beforehand. Include vegetables, proteins, and whole grains. This will help prevent you or your child from relying on candy and sweets for calories. Hungry kids will eat more candy. Make sure you all sit down and take the time to eat before going out on the candy hunt!
Don’t Overdo It
If you’re going to a party, be mindful of how much candy you eat. Sticky treats and hard candies are especially bad for teeth. The same goes for children, although children have a more difficult time self-regulating, so we recommend donating the majority of their Halloween candy to a good cause or buy-back program. This will keep them from eating too much sugar on the days following Halloween.
Don’t Neglect Your Routine
No matter how tired you are from Halloween night fun, brushing and flossing is the key to protecting your teeth, especially after eating sweets. Rinse the mouth out by drinking plenty of water. Avoid giving kids juice, as this is just added and unnecessary sugar they don’t need.
See Your Dentist
Scheduling a dental appointment during the fall and Holiday season is a great idea. Candy, cookies, and pie abound this time of year. And while we want you and your children to have fun, we want to check in and make sure that no irreversible damage is being done. Make sure to maintain your regularly scheduled dental appointments twice a year. If you don’t have one on the calendar, call today to schedule!
We want to wish you a wonderful start to fall and a safe Halloween. Enjoy your treats in moderation and call us if it’s time to schedule an appointment!
Contact Us