The weather is finally cooling off, the leaves are changing color, and Halloween is right around the corner! It’s hard to not be excited about this time of the year; but amidst all of your fun celebrations, it might be easy to accidentally neglect your oral health! Fortunately, there are several things you can do to make sure your smile looks and feels great for all of your Halloween fun. Here are four tips from your dentist to help you out.
1. Enjoy Candy During Mealtime
Believe it or not, your saliva is actually your first line of defense against the cavity-causing bacteria that forms in your mouth from Halloween candy. It helps to rinse away excess food particles and sugar and can effectively cancel out some of the acids produced by these bacteria. And your mouth’s production of saliva drastically increases when you’re eating, meaning that it’s beneficial to eat candy with your meals rather than on its own. Not to mention, eating candy with or directly following a meal also limits the amount of time the sugar has contact with your teeth!
2. Be Selective About Your Candy
You should also be mindful about the type of candy that you eat. Try to avoid hard candies and sticky sweets that stay in your mouth for extended periods of time; these are actually some of the worst candies for your teeth, and they’re also more likely to chip or crack your pearly whites if you aren’t careful. Meanwhile, sour candies are usually quite acidic and harmful for your enamel.
However, chocolates and sugarless gums are much better options for your teeth; chocolate washes off of your teeth easier than most types of candy, and dark chocolate is even better because it has less sugar! Chewing sugarless gum also increases saliva flow which helps wash away food and neutralizes the acids produced by bacteria.
3. Stick to a Healthy Diet & Drink Plenty of Water
Eating a well-balanced diet has positive effects on your overall health, as well as your oral health! Fueling up on healthy foods can also help you to feel fuller faster, before you have the chance to overindulge on candy. You should implement plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, healthy fats, and complex carbs into your diet and enjoy sugary items in moderation.
You should also drink plenty of water on a daily basis; water is the absolute best beverage for your body, including your mouth! Water helps prevent cavities by washing away any sugar that might be clinging to your teeth after consuming candy and sweets. Consider drinking water instead of the usual sugary drinks like sodas, sports drinks, and flavored juices.
4. Practice Excellent Oral Hygiene
Halloween can be a very busy and exciting time of the year, and you might not remember to brush or floss your teeth before heading to bed—but you should absolutely take steps to ensure that you’re maintaining your oral hygiene regimen! Brushing twice a day for two minutes and flossing at least once per day can actively mitigate several oral health issues that’ll spoil your Halloween fun. You should also consider using an antibacterial mouth rinse.
And of course, visiting your dentist twice a year for preventive care will allow your provider to ensure that your smile doesn’t look scary at all, whether it’s Halloween or not!
About the Practice
The team at Epic Family Dentistry of Carrollton is thrilled to serve patients and families in the area under the leadership of Dr. Afshin Azmoodeh and Dr. Moses Shin. Their practice is proud to offer a wide range of services including preventive, cosmetic, restorative options and more. If you’d like to arrange a visit, you can contact Epic Family Dentistry online or over the phone for assistance: (972) 820-7294.