It’s the Halloween season again, and that means it’s time for spooky fun and frightening festivities. While many dentists enjoy celebrating this important occasion by dressing up in terrifying attire, watching monster movies, or enjoying a classic horror novel, the dental community has its concerns about the sheer volume of candy consumed and how it can affect patients’ oral health. Here’s a brief guide to keeping your smile gorgeous and strong while celebrating Halloween.
Practice Excellent Oral Hygiene
Much of the candy handed out around Halloween is high in sugar that can provide harmful oral bacteria with the fuel they need to multiply rapidly and cause nasty infections like tooth decay and gum disease. To prevent sugary residues from accumulating in your mouth, make sure to stick to a daily oral hygiene regimen that includes brushing, flossing, and rinsing with antibacterial mouthwash. This will clear away plaque, bacteria, and food debris so your fangs can stay healthy and strong.
Drink Plenty of Water
While some houses like to hand out cans of soda on Halloween, this sweet beverage is heavy with sugar that feeds harmful bacteria and acid that weakens dental enamel on contact. When you need a beverage to wash down your candy, reach for a tall glass of water instead. Drinking water will help flush away food debris, dilute harmful chemicals, and promote healthy saliva flow, which can help prevent oral infections and dental emergencies.
Choose Your Candy Wisely
While dentists spend much time educating children about the dangers of eating too much candy, the truth is that some sweets are better for your oral health than others. While sticky, sour, and hard candies are particularly harmful due to how they can be high in acid and expose the teeth to sugar for prolonged periods, dark chocolate is low in sugar and high in antioxidants that can help reduce gum inflammation. The American Dental Association recommends chewing sugar-free gum after meals to help eliminate food debris and stimulate saliva production.
There’s nothing sweeter about the Halloween season than having a beautiful smile to compliment your spooky costume. By practicing good oral health habits and making smart eating choices, you can keep your smile beautiful for life.
About the Practice
Columbia Healthy Smiles offers the finest oral health services from its Missouri office. Led by Drs. Philip Batson and Elizabeth Abe, the staff ensures that each patient receives exemplary care with genuine compassion. Areas of expertise include preventive, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry. For more information on keeping your teeth healthy around Halloween, contact the office online or dial (573) 875-7071.