Tips and “Tricks” for a Mouth Healthy Halloween

With summer coming to a close, the holidays are upon us. And first up: Halloween! That magical time when kids dress up in their favorite action adventure, movie princess or scary goblin costume and go door to door collecting sweet treats, making a kid’s dream a parent’s nightmare. But take heart, there are some handy suggestions on ways to best handle the challenges that can come from a night of gathering bags of candy. At C R Dental Group, Dr. James Reisman, voted a Best Dentist in Dallas, and Dr. Jordana Contrucci agree with the American Dental Association (ADA) https://www.ada.org that this can be a great time to teach children good oral health habits.

It Begins With A Plan:

  • Choose candy carefully – When the little monsters, or angels, are back from trick-or-treating, have them pick 10 or so treats (whatever number you decide) they want the most and put away the rest. Whether you decide to freeze or donate, it’s best to leave them inaccessible to avoid temptation.
  • Time it right – The best time to eat Halloween candy (or other sugary foods) is with meals, or shortly after. Due to the increase in saliva production during meals, acids caused by the bacteria are rinsed away with the food particles.
  • Maintain a healthy diet – Your body is complex and requires plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables and protein to properly fuel it and maintain optimal health. Also, drink plenty of water and choose fluoridated water over soda, sports drinks and flavored waters.
  • Brush and floss – Brush your teeth twice a day with an ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste and floss once a day to rid decay-causing bacteria between teeth from harming your smile. Remember to change your toothbrush every three to four months, or sooner if bristles are frayed or you have an illness.

https://www.webmd.com/oral-health

Don’t Forget Regular Dental Visits

Routine dental and hygiene appointments are important. Always talk to your dentist about any changes or concerns with your oral health. Your dentist can help prevent some problems from occurring with education and proactive treatment. And with regular dental visits they can catch early any issues that do occur when they are still easy to “treat”.