Halloween is a holiday celebrated on October 31. People dress up in costumes and attend Halloween parties. The excitement of trick-or-treating may make you and your kids forget their oral health routines for a short time, but you still should stay vigilant about their smiles. These tips will help maintain and improve your smile during Halloween.
Halloween Candy and Teeth
While eating candy on Halloween isn’t typically going to harm your teeth, it can be problematic if teeth aren’t brushed properly afterward. Try to limit the amount of time that sugary candies stay in the mouth by immediately brushing your teeth after eating them. This way, there is less time for the sugar to stick to the teeth and cause decay. Eating too many treats at once can also contribute to cavities because constant exposure to sugar can weaken the enamel of the teeth over time.
In addition, parents should remind their kids to brush their teeth before bed to keep from forming a cavity overnight. Encourage kids to use fluoride toothpaste for healthy teeth and gums. If kids do eat a lot of sweets throughout the day, consider buying sugar-free gum as a snack alternative between meals.
Tooth Friendly Treats
If you or your child is going to be snacking on this holiday but don’t want to damage your teeth, choose treats that are less likely to get stuck between teeth or cause cavities. Candy that is chewy and sticky is a bad idea for your smile because it stays in your mouth longer. This increases the risk of tooth decay by remaining on your teeth for too long. Try choosing candy that is not as sticky and sticky as possible.
Also, make sure that you brush your teeth or at least rinse your mouth out with water after eating candy. This will help remove leftover sugar from your teeth and protect them from decay.
Follow Oral Hygiene
Brush your teeth before leaving the house. Even brushing before you leave on a trick-or-treating adventure can help protect teeth from cavities. Be sure you pack enough supplies like toothpaste, floss, and a toothbrush so that you can always clean your mouth after eating sweets.
Eat Healthy Snacks
We know it can be challenging to stop at just one house, so bring along some healthier options for a snack along the way. Trail mix, fruit leather, and granola bars are some good options that can help balance out the candy and salty snacks you get while out on your Halloween adventure.
Drink Water
Drink water instead of soda or other drinks that can stain teeth. If you’re going to be drinking sweet sodas while you’re out Trick-or-Treating, make sure you drink some water afterward to help clean your teeth and rinse away the sugar.
Following these steps can help lower the risk of sustaining oral health problems while partaking in Halloween festivities.
To find out about the dental services offered at Zane Dental, call (763) 561-1200 or schedule an online consultation. You can also visit Dentist in Brooklyn Park, MN, at 7340 Zane Ave N, Brooklyn Park, MN 55443.