Need More
Information?
Information?
As the fall season continues, people are starting to get ready for a holiday that’s a favorite for many: Halloween! This fun day is associated with pumpkins, parties, pastries, and sweets galore. If you plan on filling up on Halloween candy this year, think twice. This can mean bad news for your beam. To help you make it through the season without ruining your smile, read on to learn four helpful tips to keep oral health issues at bay.
Tip #1: Enjoy Your Candy During Mealtime
Saliva is your mouth’s first line of defense against the bacteria that cause cavities. This is because it helps wash away bacteria as well as food particles. Saliva production also increases when eating. For this reason, it’s best to eat your Halloween candy right after a meal since you’ll have more saliva to wash away the leftover sugar. This will also help limit the amount of time sugar is in contact with your teeth.
Tip #2: Be Picky About Your Candy
When choosing the Halloween candy you want to indulge in, be picky. One reason is because hard candies and sticky treats like gummy bears stay in your mouth for an extended period. Hard candies are also more likely to lead to chipped or broken teeth. Additionally, sour candies are highly acidic, which can weaken your enamel and make you more susceptible to decay.
The best option for your smile is chocolate and sugarless gums and candies. This is because chocolate is easy to wash off your teeth. Dark chocolate is even better since it contains less sugar. In addition, not only do sugar-free gum and candy not contain any sugar, but they also increase saliva production. This helps wash away food particles and neutralizes acids.
Tip #3: Drink Plenty of Water
Drinking water is good for your body, and that includes your smile. drinking water will help prevent dry mouth, which allows bacteria to thrive and may result in oral health issues like gum disease and cavities. Drinking water also increases saliva production. As previously mentioned, this neutralizes acids as well as washes away bacteria and food particles.
Tip #4: Brush & Floss Consistently
Brushing and flossing your teeth gets rid of bacteria and food particles that have built up on your smile throughout the day. This lessens your risk of tooth decay and other dental health issues. Be sure to wait at least 30 minutes after you eat before you brush your teeth. This is because the environment in your mouth becomes more acidic when you eat, which weakens your enamel. Waiting this long to brush and floss will help prevent enamel damage.
Though Halloween is a frightening time of year, you don’t want your smile to be part of the terror. With the above tips, you can maintain a healthy beam all season long!
About the Practice
Dr. Anthony Giamberardino leads the team at Giamberardino Dental Care. They have been providing patients with a range of high-quality dental treatments since 1993. They take pride in beautifying Medford one smile at a time with a range of preventive, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency treatments. Do you want to learn more about Giamberardino Dental Care or to set up an appointment? If so, you can call their office at (339) 674-6725 or visit their website to get started.
