Halloween, with costumes, spooky decorations, and enough candy to make us go wild, is perhaps the most exciting holiday of the year. While indulging in sugary treats is always a fun thing to do, we must not forget that all that candy can have rather negative impacts on our dental health. All the same, it's possible to enjoy Halloween without worrying about risking his or her teeth as long as proper precautions are taken.
At Plumas Family Dentistry & Implant Center, your trusted dentist in Yuba City, we want you to have a healthy smile during this festive time. And here are five Halloween tips on how to avoid cavities while still enjoying the fun the holiday has to offer.
1. Choose your candy wisely: Stick to tooth-friendly options
Halloween and candy are a match made in heaven, but not all candy is created equal in the health of your teeth. Some cause cavities more easily than others. Sticky candies, such as caramels, taffy, and gummy bears, can cling to your teeth long after you have eaten them. The longer that sugar is in your mouth, the longer it exposes the bacteria to it, so that chances of developing cavities are increased.
Similarly, hard candies, including lollipops and jawbreakers, also present their risks. Since they dissolve slowly in your mouth, you are exposing the teeth to sugar for quite a longer period of time, while the hard candy may chip or break a tooth if you happen to bite down on it.
Sour candies may be considered amongst the most dangerous, because they contain acids that are supposed to weaken the enamel and leave your teeth vulnerable to decay.
A better alternative is chocolate, especially dark chocolate. Chocolate melts quickly and doesn't stay sticky on your teeth. Compared to sticky or hard candies, dark chocolate contains less sugar than milk chocolate, making it a slightly better option for your teeth. So, if you or your children are going to indulge, chocolate is a safer option for oral health.
Tip from your dentist in Yuba City: If you're going to indulge in the Halloween candy with minimal risk to your teeth, choose chocolate over sticky or hard candies and enjoy them in moderation.
2. Snack Smart: Timing Is Everything
Even though you're supposed to nibble rather than gorge when snacking, avoid snacking at times when the need to eat is strongest. Aim to avoid snacking an hour after meals and at least two hours before meals. Eating the Halloween candy during a meal or right after a meal is one of the best ways to protect it from the effects of candy. Since your mouth produces more saliva during a meal, it washes away the food particles and neutralizes the acids that can destroy your teeth. It reduces the chance of cavities because it prevents sugar from sticking around longer in the mouth.
On the other hand, snack on sweets all day long prolong the amount of time your teeth are in contact with sugar. This prolonges time allows nasty bacteria to thrive and produce acids eroding enamel and causing decay. If candy snacking is restricted to particular times of the day, for instance right after meals, it could significantly limit the conditions necessary for tooth decay.
Apart from being careful about when you eat candies, make sure you drink enough water. Only water will eliminate the sugar and acid left in your mouth, clean your teeth, and keep cavities further from it. Also, if it's fluoridated, it helps harden the enamel, giving it more protection against decay.
At Plumas Family Dentistry, we recommend setting specific candyeating times for your children to avoid constant sugar exposure. For more personalized advice, schedule an appointment with your dentist in Yuba City.
3. Drink Water Instead of Sugary Beverages
While candy is the main character in Halloween, sugary drinks also add to the development of cavities and other oral problems. Soda, fruit juice, and sports drink are full of sugar and can be exceptionally acidic. Consumption of beverages, especially in conjunction with candy, raises your risk of having cavities many times over.
This worst offender in this list should be soda: high in sugar, and adding to that carbonation, which increases the acidity in your mouth. This acidic environment also weakens the enamel of the teeth, making way for cavities to attack. Fruit juices and sports drinks are sometimes touted as a healthier option, yet it can contain just the same amount of sugar as soda and, in fact, many are identical in their acid levels.
You are looking for something to keep your teeth healthy - nothing beats water, and if it is fluoridated, then so much the better. All this flushing out of that sugar and acids, coupled with added fluoride to strengthen your enamel, make it more difficult for cavities to come in. Remind your kids to drink plenty of water all day long as Halloween trick-or-treating has just ended.
Your dentist in Yuba City wants you to make water your beverage of choice this Halloween and beyond to maintain a healthy, cavity-free smile.
Well, almost all will try to do that.
4. Maintain Good Oral Hygiene: Don’t Skip Brushing and Flossing
Halloween can really be a scary-fun time, so easy to forget the basics of oral hygiene. Brushing and flossing are your lines of defense against cavities and are especially important after sugary treats. Make sure you and your little ghosts and goblins brush with fluoride toothpaste at least twice daily and give special attention after those Halloween goodies.
Probably something you should know about: wait at least 30 minutes after indulging in candy before brushing your teeth. This allows your enamel the opportunity to sit and reharden from the sugar and acids it was exposed to. Brushing too soon after consuming food that contains sugar can damage the enamel, allowing your teeth to be exposed to decay.
In addition to brushing, don't forget to floss. Candy, particularly the sticky types, can easily lodge between your teeth, which a toothbrush cannot reach. These particles are removed through flossing and prevent cavity formation in the spaces between the teeth.
A healthy smile begins with regular cleanings and check-ups with your dentist in Yuba City. Professional cleanings remove plaque and tartar buildup that cannot be reached by regular at-home brushing and flossing.
Want expert care for your teeth? Set up an appointment at Plumas Family Dentistry & Implant Center in Yuba City to ensure your healthy, strong teeth after Halloween.
5. Limit LateNight Candy: Avoid Eating Sweets Before Bed
It's very tempting to dig into your candy stash right before bed after a long night of trick-or-treating; however, this can be rather devastating to your teeth. As you sleep, your mouth produces less saliva, meaning that sugar and acids do not get washed away so quickly. Sugar from the candies thus sits on your teeth all night, giving bacteria time enough to produce acids that cause cavities.
To avoid this, limit latenight candy consumption and make sure all members of the household brush their teeth before bed. Teaching good oral health habits for your kids, such as brushing at night, can help keep their teeth free from Halloween candy's immediate impacts while also equipping them for a lifetime of healthy dental habits.
When your child has an aversion for visiting a dentist, Plumas Family Dentistry is providing sedation dentistry so that such anxiety can be dispelled without any pain or stress. Our team works with consideration and compassion to provide dental care to patients of all ages.
Contact Plumas Family Dentistry, the go-to dentist in Yuba City, and make sure the smiles of your family get protected this Halloween.
Conclusion
Halloween is a time of fun and celebration, but it doesn't have to be for your teeth. Making good decisions about your candy, consuming them at good times, staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water, and keeping up good habits in brushing and flossing will ensure that you enjoy the holiday without concern over cavities. Contact our office today at Plumas Family Dentistry & Implant Center to learn how our team can help you and your family enjoy healthy smiles all year long.
Are you concerned with your dental health after Halloween, or perhaps just looking to schedule a checkup? Contact us. At the Yuba City dental clinic, we are dedicated to great quality care and personalized treatment of every one of our patients.
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Schedule Your Post Halloween Dental Checkup Today!
Don't let Halloween candy spoil the beauty of your smile! Plumas Family Dentistry & Implant Center invites you to schedule a post-Halloween cleaning and checkup today. Our experienced team is always ready to assist in keeping that cavityfree smile. Call us or visit our website to book an appointment with the best dentist in Yuba City.
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