Is your son or daughter looking forward to Halloween? While this fun-filled fall holiday gives us plenty of reasons to smile, it can also be tough on your family’s pearly whites. An abundance of sugary sweets and continuous snacking can leave you and your loved ones with a mouth full of cavities before the year is over. Thankfully, there are a few practical ways you can protect your teeth while still indulging in your favorite fall treats. Your West Cobb dentist shares five Halloween oral health tips to keep your family’s smiles safe all season long!
1.) Choose Your Candy Carefully
While the best candy for your teeth is no candy, some sweet treats are worse for your teeth than others. Try to avoid or limit hard, chewy, and sour candies, which are notorious for wearing down teeth and burning through enamel. Instead, choose softer candies, sugarless gum, and dark chocolate.
2.) Drink Plenty of Water
Staying hydrated is important all year long, but it is especially essential while your family snacks on seasonal sweets. Drinking water while eating candy washes away sticky residue and lingering sugars that would otherwise cause tooth decay. It also encourages saliva production, which is your body’s natural cavity deterrent.
3.) Treat Yourself to Some Chocolate
When it comes to smile-friendly candy, chocolate is a good choice! Chocolate isn’t usually very hard or sticky, and it’s easier to clean off your teeth since it melts quickly. Even better, dark chocolate contains less sugar than milk or white chocolate and provides beneficial antioxidants.
4.) Keep Using Fluoridated Products
As Halloween gets closer, make sure your loved ones are in the habit of using fluoridated dental products! Fluoride can be absorbed by enamel, where it works to make teeth stronger and more resistant to decay. Your family should always use fluoridated toothpastes and mouthwashes that have the ADA Seal of Approval.
5.) Don’t Forget to Schedule Everyone’s Dental Checkups
Once Halloween is over, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years will be here before you know it. Before your schedule becomes too busy, make sure you schedule your family’s biannual checkups. Experts recommend getting routine checkups twice a year, so now is the perfect time to ensure your loved ones’ smiles are healthy and ready for the upcoming holidays!
Don’t let toothaches and cavities haunt your Halloween! Keep these simple yet effective tips in mind so you and your family can keep your teeth and gums safe this time of year.