Happy Halloween! As the holiday approaches, kids and parents alike are getting excited to dress up and eat their favorite treats. Halloween is a fun time for you and your family, but this time of year also means more candy consumption. Keep reading to learn how you and your loved ones can have a happy Halloween, while keeping your teeth healthy at the same time from your children’s dentist in Ellington.
Stay Away from Snacking on Sweets
Snacking increases your risk of cavities and what’s even more spooky, your chance of tooth decay doubles if you’re snacking on sugary candy. That’s why you should try to limit you and your family’s candy consumption to a single time, instead of constantly grazing throughout the day.
Choose Your Candy Wisely
Try to avoid hard candy that stays in your mouth for a long period of time like jaw breakers. The length of time sugary foods are in contact with your teeth directly affects how susceptible your smile is to decay. Unless your candy of choice is sugar-free, sweets that stay in your mouth will increase your chance of cavities.
Help Those in Need
After collecting all your Halloween loot, you and your family can go through the candy stash to pick out your favorites. After that, you can get rid of some of that excess candy by donating it to food shelters or organizations like Operation Gratitude, a nonprofit that sends candy and other supplies to overseas military.
Watch What You Drink
Drinking water with fluoride in it is a natural way to prevent tooth decay by strengthening your enamel. Most tap water is fluoridated but if you like bottled water, look at the label to make sure it contains fluoride.
You should also watch out for sugary drinks like soda. Sugary beverages put your teeth at a higher risk of decay, especially when pairing it with sweets. If you must indulge in a soda or sports drink, use a straw to minimize its contact with your teeth.
Brush and Floss
Although these are routines you should practice throughout the year, brushing and flossing is especially important around Halloween. Your toothbrush should be replaced after every 3 to 4 months, or when you see the bristles start to fray. This will ensure that your toothbrush is doing the best job it can to eliminate acid and bacteria from sugary candy.
Visit Your Dentist
The best way to prevent dental issues from becoming serious is to see your family dentist in Ellington. They can make sure you and your children get through Halloween cavity-free!
Who says you can’t maintain good oral health and have fun while doing it? Now that you’ve read through some the above tips, you and your family are ready to have a healthy Halloween.
About the Practice
Dr. Warren Zahner works alongside his two sons to form a dynamic father-son team. They each bring their own specialties and backgrounds to provide the best care possible for their patients. They currently run their own practice, Zahner Dental, where they can be contacted through their website or by phone at (860) 870-9031 for any questions.