Halloween is just around the corner, and you’ve probably already started seeing seasonal displays pop up at your local grocery store. It seems like overnight every store you go to is filled with decorations, costumes, and of course, all kinds of candy.
While the best Halloween costumes are often the scariest, it’s safe to say that the opposite is true for your smile. There are plenty of hazards to your teeth this time of year, but there are things you can do to keep your teeth in good condition. Here are a few tips to keep in mind.
Be Choosy About Candy
Starting with the obvious, candy can be pretty hard to avoid this time of year. Even if you aren’t seeking it out, you might wind up with more of it than you know what to do with.
The truth is that people like sweets, which means that it’s not necessarily practical to ask people to completely cut them out of their diet. However, if you’re going to indulge, you may just want to avoid some of the worst ones for your teeth.
Sticky and gummy candies are particularly bad about sticking to the teeth, which gives them more time to feed bacteria in the mouth. Instead, you should stick with candies like chocolate that are easily washed away.
Stick to Dental Hygiene
You also need to make sure that you’re cleaning your teeth well after you indulge in candy, or in anything else that may not be best for your teeth.
Brush thoroughly and floss well after eating candy so that the sugar in your mouth doesn’t have time to do damage.
Schedule a Checkup
Naturally, it’s going to be hard to avoid some of the spooky season pitfalls. If you want a little bit of help picking up the slack, you should talk to your dentist about a checkup sometime in November. This will give them an opportunity to evaluate any damage that happened over the Halloween season.
You ought to see your dentist twice a year for checkups anyway, and following up Halloween with a solid cleaning is as good as time as any to get one.
About the Author
Dr. Javier Perez has been in dentistry for nearly 25 years, and every time that patients meet him they’re struck by his remarkable passion for his field. Even after all this time, there’s nothing he loves more than seeing people’s smiles after he’s helped them. Dr. Perez initially began practicing dentistry in Cuba before moving to the U.S., where he received a degree from UCLA.
If you have any questions about how to protect your oral health, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (903) 534-8110.