While you may not think Halloween is frightening, it certainly can be for your teeth.
If you love stocking up on your favorite sweet treats during the spooky season, it’s vital that you take some precautions so you don’t end up with significant oral health issues, such as tooth decay and gum disease.
Lynn M. Andreacola, DMD, and the rest of our team at Andreacola Family Dentistry in Marlton, New Jersey, are passionate about empowering you to practice good oral health habits all year. However, we believe it’s even more important during the sugar-packed Halloween season.
In this month’s blog, we’re offering some practical ways to prioritize your oral health while still enjoying this beloved autumnal holiday.
Before exploring some practical oral health habits, it’s helpful to better understand the impact sugar can have on your teeth.
Your mouth is full of bacteria, both good and bad. While the good bacteria break down food while you eat, the bad bacteria convert sugar into acid. And the more sugar you consume, the more acid your mouth accumulates.
Left unchecked, acid buildup can start to erode the protective outer layer of enamel on your teeth, leading to cavities and decay.
Skipping candy and sugary foods altogether this Halloween is certainly one of the best things you can do for your teeth. But if your sweet tooth is too hard to ignore, here are some ways to enjoy the treats while avoiding the tricks of oral health issues:
Candies that are especially sticky, sour, or hard have the greatest potential to wreak havoc on your teeth. They’re high in sugar content, require you to keep them in your mouth for long periods, and leave behind debris that’s difficult to brush away, leaving you vulnerable to tooth decay.
In addition to being mindful about the types of treats you eat, when you eat them matters. If you enjoy your sweets with meals, your mouth is already producing extra saliva to help wash away that tooth-eroding acid.
If you reach for sugary snacks throughout the day, you’re constantly keeping sugar in your mouth, leading to more and more acid production. Try to limit snacking altogether or reach for a nutritious option such as fruit or nuts instead of a candy bar.
Brushing your teeth after consuming sugar helps eliminate plaque, leftover food, and other debris. However, when you brush matters. If you don’t wait at least 30 minutes after eating sweets to brush, you can cause more harm to your tooth enamel.
Instead, rinse your mouth with water immediately after enjoying a sweet treat. Then, after waiting a half-hour, brush your teeth gently but thoroughly.
In between rinsing your mouth with water and brushing your teeth, chew some sugarless gum for about 20 minutes. Chewing gum increases mouth-cleaning saliva production, neutralizes tooth-eroding acid, and freshens your breath, too!
Schedule a post-Halloween teeth cleaning and checkup at Andreacola Family Dentistry by calling our office or using our online booking today.
