Halloween is fun for kids and adults alike, but this season is also filled with sugary treats and their Halloween favorites that can increase the risk of tooth decay. We don’t want you and your kids to avoid your spooky season fun, but we also want your teeth to stay cavity-free. In today’s blog, your Greenville, TX, dentist talks about avoiding the terror of tooth decay!
Halloween Treats and Dental Cavities
How do our Halloween treats and holiday favorites lead to tooth decay? When we consume items and drinks high in sugar and starch, harmful oral bacteria will break down the particles left behind on and between our teeth. As this happens, the levels of oral acidity rise and the teeth are coated in a sticky material known as plaque, which hardens with time in tartar. Plaque and tartar lead to stained teeth and bad breath, but can also increase the risk of tooth decay by weakening and eroding the outer enamel. Which is why steps should be taken to help safeguard your smiles during the Halloween season and the holidays to come!
Protecting Your Smiles
First, try lining how many pieces of candy you eat each day, and follow them with a glass of water to help rinse away sugar and starch particles. Eating them just after a meal is helpful too, as your dinner helps increase saliva production. You can also offer your kids a chance to trade their excess candy in for a treat or activity, so they get to trick or treat but don’t overindulge in candy. You can also help by making sure everyone follows good oral hygiene routines!
Improving Oral Health
To help lower the risk of cavities, kids and adults alike need to begin their day by brushing for two minutes when they wake up, and then repeat this before bed. Each time, be sure you all use a toothbrush with soft bristles and a fluoride toothpaste, as this helps protect the teeth from enamel erosion and strengthens the outer enamel to fight cavities. Everyone also needs to floss every evening before going to bed, as this removes what a toothbrush alone cannot.
Make time to see our team too! You can schedule a checkup and cleaning now so we can examine the smile for signs of cavities and offer fillings as needed. We can also help strengthen little smiles with fluoride treatments and dental sealants, which can help lower the risk of cavities for months or even years to come.
Schedule An Appointment to Avoid Cavities
We want you and your family to enjoy Halloween without leaving teeth vulnerable to tooth decay. Schedule an appointment with Smith Family Dentistry in Greenville, TX, today at 903-455-5750 to learn more about preventing the onset of tooth decay.