Your dentist wants you and your kids to be smart about what you subject your teeth to every day, but especially during Halloween. Candy offerings arrive on the scene early and last long after October 31 has passed, but people often treat this time of year as though they’ll never see another treat again. There are plenty of sweet temptations to last all season and potentially cause Halloween dental care trouble. Follow these dos and don’ts to save your smile.
Do Skip the Gummy Stuff
Gummy worms, taffy, chewing gum, candy apples, caramel, licorice – there is a long list of gummy sweet candy available. This is some of the worst stuff possible for your teeth and it can lead to tooth decay and other serious oral health problems. Here’s why:
- Sticks to tooth enamel and in between crevices of teeth.
- Does not fade away quickly and sits on teeth too long exposing them to bacteria.
- Latches onto fillings and crowns and other restorative dentistry and dislodges them.
Don’t Forget the Water
It is important to rinse your teeth as often as possible with swishes and drinks of water, especially if there is no opportunity to brush and floss throughout Halloween night. At the very least, you work at the build-up of candy on teeth and was it away until the real dental care efforts can begin.
Do Indulge in Chocolate
If you’re going to go hog wild on one type of candy, make it plain chocolate. This candy – as long as it’s free of crunchy or chewy additions like nuts, nougat, or other sticky, hard stuff – is one of the kindest to teeth. The chocolate begins to melt right away and does not linger on tooth enamel. You can’t skip brushing or drinking water, but chocolate is less of a threat to Halloween dental care.
Don’t Eat Just One Piece of Candy at a Time
It’s true – eating a bunch of candy at one time is better for your teeth than indulging in one piece here and there.
- Something’s gotta give. You might take care of your waistline with a judicious candy selection, but a taste of candy every hour or two puts your teeth in an ongoing sugar bath which is the kind of environment that results in a need for tooth-colored fillings.
- Overdoing it can save your teeth. Overindulging is a smart way to rid yourself of the desire to eat too much candy and protect your teeth simultaneously – too many sweets can make you not want any more Halloween sweets at all.
Do Visit Your Dentist
Getting a thorough teeth cleaning after a particularly indulgent candy holiday is a smart move for any adult who is concerned about their oral health. It’s also important to see your dentist right away if you have a toothache, loose dental work, or damaged teeth, for whatever reason.
Schedule an appointment with Dr. Chi Fu and his dental team at Chester Hill Dentistry in Rye, NY, to get the Halloween dental care you need before and after this holiday.