October…Fall..and Halloween, what a wonderful time of year! Candy corn, pumpkin spice lattes and everything nice. It’s delicious, spooky and a season full of fun. Unfortunately, it is a dangerous time of year for our beautiful teeth. The amount of sugary treats, beverages and candy consumed this month is a lot for our teeth to handle. Follow the tips below and you’ll have better chances of a healthier smile!
5 Dental Tricks and Tips to Get You Through The Halloween Season:
BEWARE of how frequently you are snacking on sugary treats.
Eating candy more frequently is bad for your teeth. Dr. Simon recommends a post Halloween party where everyone eats all they want in one sitting instead of saving it to snack on for weeks.
Don’t be SCARED to bring veggies and fruits to the party!
Everyone brings candy and sweet deserts, but veggies and fruits are always left out. Find fun, creative ways to dress up vegetables that make eating them fun. This way you can include healthy foods in the mix of all the sugar!
Stay hydrated, water is MAGIC for the body.
Frequently drink water throughout the day. Water is good for your overall health, but it also helps wash away the sugars from clinging to your teeth.
You want to AVOID sticky and hard candies
Sticky candy clings to your teeth and increase risk for tooth decay. If sugar sits too long on your teeth, it will turn into acid. The acid will eat away the tooth enamel and cause tooth decay. A whole scary process you want to avoid. And as for hard candy it could cause you to chip a tooth.
Brush & Floss off the plaque before and after eating junk foods.
The habit of daily brushing and flossing is an important habit. It is also beneficial to do it before and after you eat junk food.
- Brush Before: To give your teeth a clean service so it’s harder for the junk food to stick.
- Brush Afterwards: To remove remaining junk food so it does not sit on your teeth for a long period of time.
These tips and tricks are easier said than done, we get it! Sweets and sugar are hard to avoid. That is why dental visits are so important. Schedule your dental cleaning, our hygienists will get your teeth back on track to a healthier smile.
While You are Trick or Treating
If you are going to go trick-or-treating this year here are some helpful reminders. These tips will help you avoid a chipped or broken tooth:
- Bring a flashlight: Not everyone has a light on or streetlight to help guide you.
- Be mindful of your costume: if you are wearing something long, a cape or a mask, be careful not to trip on it and make sure you can see.
- Also, only grab sealed treats!
If in the event you break or chip your tooth. We are here for you! Avoid long waits and huge bills at the hospital, call our emergency dental hotline.