To protect your teeth at Halloween, choose chocolate over sticky candy, eat treats right after meals, wait 30 minutes before you brush and use fluoride toothpaste. Here are tips for keeping the whole family cavity-free.
The air is crisper and the leaves are falling in the streets. That means autumn is here and the fun and excitement of Halloween is right around the corner. Halloween can also present a significant dental hygiene challenge to parents for keeping everyone's tooth enamel protection intact and cavity-free through preventive dentistry. So here are some healthy tips and tricks from Lewis Estates Dental Centre's family dentistry practice on how to avoid sticky situations this year.
"Not all candy affects dental hygiene equally," suggests Dr. P.K. Bains, principal dentist at Lewis Estates Dental Centre. "A favourite choice for my children is chocolate because it's delicious and dissolves quickly in the mouth. It doesn't stick to teeth like hard candies or get trapped in dental work like popcorn or nuts.
The trick is also to avoid treats that are acidic or chewy, such as sour candy and taffy. These stay in contact with tooth enamel for longer periods of time and increase the risk for tooth decay and dental caries. Being selective about treats will cause less damage to oral health over time."
Plan Your Halloween Dental Care Strategy
Depending on your schedule, sit down and eat a balanced meal with the kids after their exciting night. The increase in saliva produced during the meal will help neutralize sugar acids and rinse away food particles that can lead to dental plaque. Plus, there are fewer urges to eat more sweets on a full stomach.
Mapping your dental care routine right from the beginning could also include deciding on treats-per-day limits. It might be tempting to let your kids over-indulge, but their tooth enamel and dental hygiene will benefit from limiting their sugar consumption.
Halloween Dental Care Practices
Don't forget to pause for proper dental care routine and brushing after everyone has finished their Halloween treats. Acidic foods and sugar acids soften your tooth enamel, and you risk damaging it further by brushing immediately after eating. Drink water instead to rinse away the sugar and neutralize oral bacteria, then wait a half hour before you brush and maintain proper dental hygiene by flossing thoroughly. We recommend using fluoride toothpaste to provide your mouth with additional protection against cavities and tooth decay.
Most dental insurance plans reset at the end of December and do not roll over into the new year. Schedule your dental check-up today or book your preventive dentistry appointment online before your insurance expires and get your smile ready for the holidays.
Above all, have fun. Enjoy your night and stay safe from all those ghosts and goblins.