Halloween is practically upon us, and many patient families are thrilled to celebrate the spooky season in full effect this year following the COVID-19 pandemic. Indeed, trick-or-treating for candy is a fun-filled experience for children, but it is important not to indulge too much in sticky, gummy, and sugary treats in order to protect your smile. As a matter of fact, too much of anything is bad, and the last thing your family wants to face is tooth loss due to too many sweets. In today’s blog, your Leawood, KS dentist offers a few tips to help prioritize your oral health and keep your teeth healthy through Halloween.
Keep Preventive Supplies on Hand
Nothing is better than putting on your costume to go door to door and receive a bucketful of candy. Indeed, children especially love sweet treats, and this is the one night a year when candy consumption is greatly encouraged. Still, however, you would not want to eat every piece in one sitting, and you certainly would not allow your little ones to do so. You see, moderation is needed so that your teeth do not become overloaded with the presence of sugar.
Oral bacteria are present in every smile, and they prefer to feed off of the foods you consume. Additionally, sugars are their favorite to consume, and they cause the bacteria to produce a destructive acid that eats away enamel and causes tooth decay to set in.
While walking from door to door, your child may sneak a sweet treat or two, leaving traces of chocolate and other sugars on their teeth in the process. To fend off hyperactive bacteria, it may be wise to keep a portable toothbrush and floss on hand. For more information about this step, give our team a call today.
Drink Plenty of Water
In addition to keeping up with your regular preventive routine, a holiday must that we encourage is to drink plenty of water. By now you are aware of the necessity of water and its many health benefits, but did you know it is great for healthy teeth?
Indeed, water contains a mineral known as fluoride, which is the same material present in toothpaste. Fluoride bonds with your enamel and helps to keep it strong, so drinking plenty of water can actually provide a boost of strength.
Schedule Your Post-Holiday Checkup
Finally, don’t put off your post-holiday checkup. We recognize that the latter three months of the year are filled with family gatherings, holidays, and seasonal treats galore. As such, it can be more difficult to ensure your smile is taken care of. Because of this, you could benefit greatly from a routine preventive checkup so that your dentist can assess your smile’s health and offer advice as needed.
Learn More Today
We encourage patient families to prioritize their oral health while celebrating during the holiday season. Contact Dreem Dentistry in Leawood, KS by calling 913-681-5500 to schedule your next appointment with us today.
