This Halloween, it’s important to enjoy tricks and treats responsibly! We want our patients to enjoy festive snacks while ensuring that they keep their oral health in check. There may be some types of sugar you may forget when it comes to Halloween night, drinks included. Below, read the three top oral health tips for patients this Halloween in Lexington, KY.
Oral Health Tips for Halloween
Keep these tips in mind when enjoying snacks this Halloween:
Be Careful Around Candy
Ensure that you and your children eat sugar in moderation. Sugars and starches left in the mouth can attract harmful bacteria. Harmful bacteria feed on these sugars and starches, creating acidic digestive acids that eat away at the tooth enamel. This Halloween, it’s okay to eat candy, but we also want patients to make sure that they clean their smiles to prevent bacterial buildup.
It can also be easy to forget that some beverages can have more sugar than you think. Fruit punch, juice, or lemonade can contain just as much or even more sugar than some candies. If you have young ones, keep track of their sugar intake, and don’t forget the beverages!
Flossing and brushing can help minimize plaque and tartar in the mouth. Plaque is a bacterial film that can harden to form tartar or calculus. Scheduling regular dental cleanings and exams can also prevent bacteria from spreading. Our hygienists can remove hardened plaque from the teeth and gums at regular dental cleanings.
Drink Water
Drinking enough water helps wash away food debris. Hydration can prevent problems like dry mouth, which hinders saliva production. A lack of saliva in the mouth means that bacteria and food debris can stay in one place.
Treating dry mouth and drinking water while enjoying Halloween snacks can minimize harmful bacteria in the mouth. Drinking fluoridated water also benefits the smile. Fluoride is a mineral that also uses calcium and phosphate to strengthen the tooth enamel. Consuming fluoride can prevent demineralization and build up the tooth’s structure.
Encouraging your child to drink water on Halloween can help wash away some of the sugar they consume. Avoiding sugary beverages and sticking to water can also prevent sugar from coating the teeth and gums.
Continue Your Oral Hygiene Routine
After the festivities are done, remember to floss and brush your teeth. If you have children, remind them to not skip brushing before they go to sleep. Flossing before brushing can remove food debris from between teeth and provide a better clean. We recommend that patients floss at least once a day and brush twice daily for two minutes each time.
When brushing, begin on the outside of the teeth. If you use a manual toothbrush, rotate the brush in a circular motion. Move from the outside of the teeth to the chewing surfaces and back of each arch.
Don’t overdo the sugar this Halloween! Minimize harmful bacteria with routine care and regular dental appointments. Request your next dental appointment with Dr. Doyle Freano online or call 859-251-3809 if you need to schedule your next dental cleaning.