Trick-or-treat or cavities!
Halloween is coming up. And that means lots of candy. But I’m not going to spoil the fun and tell you or your children to not eat candy because it’s bad for your teeth. But I will give you some tips on how to protect your teeth during the holiday.
But first here’s some interesting background to Halloween. Did you know that it has been around since the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain which marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter or the "darker half" of the year? People would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. It evolved over the centuries and came to the United States with the immigrants from Europe. From Irish and English traditions, Americans began to dress up in costumes and go house to house asking for food or money, a practice that eventually became today’s “trick-or-treat” tradition. So, let’s enjoy the tradition but keep healthy teeth along the way.
Tips on how to enjoy your candy and protect your teeth too.
1. Brush and floss. Brush and floss after eating candy and if you have children make sure they do too. This is because the sugar in the candy changes the PH in the mouth to acidic making an ideal environment for bacteria to grow and for cavities to form.
2. Select times to eat candy. It is best to have one or two times a week set for when candy can be eaten. It is not so important for the teeth how much is eaten at one time but how often candy is eaten. That is, if you eat a little bit of candy on and off all day long there is a much greater chance for bacteria to grow and cavities to form than if you eat it at given times and then brush your teeth.
3. Avoid sticky candy. Sticky candy can get caught in the teeth and between the gums. Children particularly have a hard time getting sticky candy out of their teeth when they brush.
4. Avoid hard candies. Hard candies are notorious for breaking teeth and causing fillings or crowns to fall out.
5. Come see us. Keep your regular dental visits and call us immediately if you have any tooth problems. And if you have kids make sure they are getting in for regular checkups. Keeping your teeth clean and healthy will help prevent tooth decay and keep happy white smiles. And don’t forget, if you have dental insurance, time is running out to use up your insurance before December 31st.
Enjoy your Halloween and give us a call, we’re here to make you smile!
Fair Oaks Quality Dental