Halloween is right around the corner, which means that it’s officially spooky season. However, that’s no excuse to let your dental health habits slide. We’ve compiled this list of Halloween candy tips to help cause as little damage to your teeth as possible this holiday.
1. Avoid Sticky Candies
Sticky items like taffy or gummies stay attached to your teeth for longer because it takes more time for saliva to wash them away. Because they stay on your teeth longer, bacteria in your mouth have plenty of time to ingest this sugar and create acid that erodes your tooth enamel and puts you at an increased risk for painful cavities.
2. Time Your Snacking Right
If you’re going to consume Halloween candy, try and do so with your meals or soon afterwards. Your mouth produces more saliva around mealtime. Saliva is crucial in preventing tooth decay because it washes away excess particles of food and bacteria that would otherwise cause cavities.
3. Don’t Lay Out a Bowl of Candy
This can leave you more vulnerable to the temptation to snack throughout the day, which is detrimental to not only your diet, but your dental health as well. The longer that sugar stays in your mouth, the more havoc that harmful bacteria can wreak. Do your teeth a favor and limit your candy consumption to mealtimes.
4. Limit Sugary Drinks
In the same vein, sipping sugary beverages over a long period of time can do some serious damage to your teeth. Stay away from sodas, sports and energy drinks, and flavored water if you can. Hydrate with regular water instead. It will quench your thirst as well as wash away any harmful sugar particles that put you at risk for tooth decay.
5. Chew Sugar-Free Gum
Did you know that chewing sugarless gum can help clean your teeth? This is because the act of chewing stimulates the production of saliva that rinses out your mouth of any detrimental bacteria. It’s never a bad idea to pack a stick of sugar-free gum in your or your child’s lunch, especially after consuming candy.
6. Brush Twice a Day
Be sure to use toothpaste with fluoride, as it’s a natural occurring mineral that gives your teeth more strength to fight cavities. Also, wait at least half an hour after eating to brush, since that gives your saliva a chance to neutralize the acids in the foods you ate.
7. Don’t Forget to Floss
Brushing alone only cleans three of the five surfaces of your teeth, so be sure to clean in between them as well. Even if you can’t brush in the middle of the day, nothing is stopping you from taking a container of floss to lunch with you and keeping your mouth clean at work or school.
8. Visit Your Dentist
Scheduling an appointment with your dentist after Halloween is a no-brainer. That way he or she can treat any cavities that may have been caused by eating all that candy. You can also get a professional cleaning to make your smile shine.
Just because Halloween is right around the corner is no reason to let your oral hygiene fall by the wayside. Follow these tips to keep your smile nice, clean, and healthy.
About the Author
Dr. Brad Mitchell earned his dental degree from the University of Oklahoma. He is a member of the American Dental Association, the Oklahoma Dental Association, and the Academy of General Dentistry. He wholeheartedly believes that being a dentist is the best job in the world, and that through his job, he can change a patient’s life. He wants to make sure your teeth are nice and clean this holiday season. To book your next cleaning with Dr. Mitchell, contact him through his website or call (405) 755-2670.
