Dental Care Tips For Halloween

Halloween is a time for treats, tricks, and spooky decorations. However, this holiday is also notorious for being unhealthy. Candy, sugary sweets, and unhealthy treats abound. In addition to unhealthy treats, it is also a time for parties and trick-or-treating. This usually means that your teeth are put through a lot of wear and tear.

Tricks for Healthy Teeth and Gums

While trick or treating is fun, it can also lead to cavities and tooth decay if you don’t eat candy smart! Instead of grabbing handfuls of candy from the bowl of goodies, try to only grab a few pieces at a time. This way, you can savor your treat for longer without increasing your risk for tooth decay. Also, make sure to brush your teeth or rinse your mouth out immediately after eating a piece of candy to prevent cavities further. Try to avoid consuming sugary food too often during this season as well to prevent damage to your smile and oral health.

Halloween Oral Hygiene

There are a number of ways that you can help keep teeth healthy during Halloween. First, be sure that you are thoroughly brushing and flossing your teeth every single day. You should especially make sure that you are keeping sugar away from your mouth during the extended periods of candy-eating. Additionally, don’t brush or floss right after a meal when eating sugary foods because the acid in these foods can damage the teeth. Instead, wait 30 minutes to an hour after eating before you touch your toothbrush to your pearly whites. 

Avoid Sticky, Hard Candies

Hard candy can easily crack your tooth enamel or cause your teeth to get stuck in between other teeth. These candies also leave residue on your teeth that can further break down your enamel and increase your chances of tooth decay. Sticky candies stick to your teeth for long periods of time, causing harmful bacteria to build up and increasing your chance of cavities and gum disease. Stick with chocolate instead! Chocolate is less likely to cause issues because it’s softer and doesn’t stick as long.

Use caution when eating hard or chewy candies because breaking them in your mouth can also damage your gums. It’s best to avoid these kinds of treats altogether and stick with soft options instead.

Stay Hydrated

You can also reduce your risk of tooth decay by drinking plenty of water during trick-or-treating and continuing to drink after you’ve returned home from festivities. Water will keep your mouth hydrated, washing away leftover food and sugar, so it doesn’t sit on your teeth for extended periods of time. Make sure to brush and floss your teeth regularly after eating sugary foods as well. By removing the food particles that bacteria use as fuel, you can help reduce your risk of developing decay.

If you have any questions about oral health, call us at (281) 972-4747 and schedule an appointment with our dentist. We’ll be happy to help you further.