Have A Healthy Halloween!
It’s that time of year again! Spooky creatures and creepy crawlies are around every corner, but we think the scariest thing is the CANDY. All kinds of candy: soft, hard, crunchy, chewy, gummy, sour, sweet, and sticky! Any candy can take a toll on your teeth if you’re not careful. Now, we know better than to tell our patients not to take their kids trick or treating, and we won’t tell parents not to sample any of the loot, but we would like everyone to consider taking the following precautions:
- Stick to small portions. Don’t eat a full-sized treat when you can have a fun-sized one. Only have one — ok, maybe two — pieces of candy at a time.
- Limit the amount you eat. Just once a day or (dare we say it) every other day is a good plan, and the candy will last longer!
- Drink lots of water. Water can protect your dental enamel, reduce the bacteria that cause bad breath, and remove residue that could stain your teeth.
- Avoid candy that is sticky or chewy. Even with frequent brushing and flossing, sticky candies like gummy bears, caramels, and taffy can become lodged in your teeth and are tough to get rid of. Steer clear of these candies, as they have the potential to stay on teeth for extended periods of time and accelerate the process of tooth decay.
- Stay away from sour candy. The acid in sour candy erodes tooth enamel. We recommend steering clear to protect your smile.
- Don’t eat candy that lasts a long time. Lollipops and hard candy take too long to dissolve. This means that your teeth will have longer exposure to the sugar and that the bacteria in your mouth will have more time to convert that sugar into acid.
- Brush as soon as you can after eating candy. Your best defense against the harmful effects of eating lots of sugary treats is to brush and floss your teeth as soon as you can afterward.
- Schedule post-Halloween exams and cleanings. It never hurts to take extra precautions at this time of year. Keep everyone’s mouth healthy and smile bright by bringing the whole family in for fall checkups.
The bottom line is that you can still enjoy all the fun that comes with this time of year as long as you remember to take the proper precautions and care for your teeth after you indulge. Everything in moderation is a great motto — except for when it comes to brushing and flossing. You still need to do that every day! Consider this your friendly reminder to contact us to schedule your next cleaning and examination at our office located in West Chester, OH. Have fun, stay safe, and TRICK OR TREAT!