Oral Health Tips for a Healthy Halloween

Halloween is full of spooky fun and plenty of sweet treats. At our dentist office in Bethlehem, GA, we love to see our patients decked out in their costumes. But for any family dentist, this holiday can be quite frightening! With sweet treats quite often available on kitchen tables, in classrooms, and in offices all month long, there is potential for some scary harm for your teeth. It’s our duty as the best family dentist in Bethlehem, GA, to do everything we can to ensure our patients have happy and healthy smiles. Dr. Uyen Hoang shares some of the best Halloween oral health tips you and your family can use this holiday.

Choose chocolate! Yes, really!

When you visit your Bethlehem dentist, you won’t hear us say that sugary treats are a good thing for your teeth. However, chocolate is actually the better choice over sticky candy options like gummy or chewy candies. This is because these overly chewy candies stick to your teeth and get stuck between your teeth. Chocolate rinses free from your teeth significantly easier than those sticky sweet treats. Even better than milk or white chocolate is dark chocolate. This is considered to be the healthiest option for several reasons. Including how much easier it is to rinse away from your teeth and the teeth of your children.

Skip the Hard Candies

Hard candies may not be sticky and chewy, but they are still awful for your teeth. When you visit our Loganville dentist office, you’ll find that we have nothing good to say about hard candies, unless they are sugar-free. Lollipops and other hard candies dissolve incredibly slowly in your mouth. This means that your teeth and gums will be exposed to sugar for an extended period than with other candy choices.   While sugar-free is the better option for hard candies, it is not without its risks. Hard candies can result in broken or chipped teeth.

Staying Hydrated, Drinking Plenty of Water

We recommend that our patients, particularly our little patients, stay extra hydrated and drink plenty of water all month long. This is partially due to the fact that soda, fruit juices, and other sugar-filled drinks are scary choices for little teeth. Water is the best way for any of us to stay hydrated, particularly if the water contains fluoride. Water helps to rinse away sugar, food debris, and bacteria.

If you go out to trick or treat with your little ones, be sure that everyone is drinking plenty of fresh water.

Good Halloween Oral Health Routine

As your dentist in Bethlehem, GA, we cannot stress the importance of having a good oral health routine. Brushing after every meal and flossing once a day is important every day of the year. In the weeks leading up to and after Halloween, when candy is enjoyed in abundance.

If your little ones are under the age of eight, pediatric dentist Parker CO, Dr. Chris Green recommends that parents brush their teeth for them in the morning and in the evening before bed. You should also help your children to floss carefully.

Snack with Purpose

Outright denying your children their favorite sweet treats is only going to serve to make them want to binge on them when you’re not looking. Instead, consider having children select one or two pieces of candy after their lunch and after dinner.

When we eat meals, like lunch and dinner, we produce extra saliva. This serves the purpose of reducing the food and bacteria in the mouth. With this in mind, it makes sense that enjoying candy after meals can be the better option.

Chewing Sugar-Free Gum

Unless your child has traditional braces, consider sugar free gum if it’s not possible to brush right away after every meal. Sugar-free gum can help to reduce the potential for tooth decay because it boosts the saliva flow in your mouth. Dr, Hoang recommends that patients of all ages keep sugar free gum around when brushing isn’t possible.

Skipping the Sour

Sour candies are very popular, and we can agree that many of them can be tasty sweets. However, sour candies are known for having high acidity levels, which can cause significant damage to the enamel on teeth. Once the enamel has been damaged, it cannot be replaced. This leaves your teeth vulnerable to discoloration and decay. If you’re looking for a new dentist in Bethlehem, GA, our office is always welcoming new patients! Gentle Dental Group is just one call away. Contact us today!