Halloween is a fun time of year, with families enjoying costumes, spooky movies, and of course, trick or treating. But too much sugar could mean a greater risk of cavities following your trick or treating adventure. Which is why in today’s blog, your Austin, MN, dentist is discussing ways to enjoy Halloween without leaving your smiles vulnerable to cavities!
The Link Between Sugar and Candy
Sugar is a tasty component of all sweets, and also tends to cling to our teeth when we consume candies, especially sticky options like taffy and caramel. When bacteria consume these particles that have become trapped in our smiles, this causes a rise in oral acidity and coats the teeth in layers of plaque and tartar. This buildup not only causes bad breath and stained teeth, but increases the risk of tooth decay and gingivitis. Which means that during Halloween, and the holiday season to come, care is needed to help safeguard little smiles against cavities.
Limiting Tooth Decay Risks
First, help limit how many pieces of candy your kids eat each day. Reserve them for right after a meal, and wash them down with a glass of water, which helps remove stray particles. You could also let your kids pick their favorite pieces from their haul, and trade the rest to you for a toy for a small amount of money. If you’re going to be handing out treats to the neighborhood children, then consider options that don’t put teeth at risk, such as sealed packages of trail mix or nuts, sugar-free gum, or party favors like plastic skeletons, rubber bats, and spider rings. These are fun, and less likely to cause problems for the health of little smiles!
Better Oral Hygiene
You can also help by making sure your entire family is properly caring for their teeth. You should all start and end each day by brushing for two minutes, and always using a fluoride toothpaste, which strengthens outer enamel. In addition, everyone needs to floss each evening to reach what a toothbrush may not be able to. A checkup and cleaning is beneficial too! A checkup lets us examine the smile and areas of potential problems early on, and a cleaning removes all plaque and tartar completely. If you schedule one now, you and your family can protect your smiles before the holiday season makes it hard to find time to see us! If you have any questions, give us a call today!
Talk To Your Austin, MN Dentist About Avoiding Cavities
Our team wants to help your family enjoy the spooky season without putting smiles at risk. To find out more about preventing the onset of tooth decay, then contact your Austin, MN, dentists, Dr. Potach and Dr. Mitchell, by calling 507-437-6312.
