Halloween Candy Guide!
Halloween is just around the corner, which means kids are ready to go all out trick-or-treating. Stocking up on their winter supply of candy! Therefore it’s no surprise that Halloween also presents parents with a variety of health and safety challenges to remain aware of. “It’s OK to eat candy on Halloween, but it’s vital to have a plan in place to not damage your teeth,” says ADA dentist Dr. Deborah Himelhoch. This is how you can help your family stay healthy on Halloween and all year-round.
Time Things Right
Eating Halloween candy (or other sugary foods) as part of meals or shortly after lunch or dinner. Saliva production actually increases during meals. This actually helps cleanse your mouth by washing away particles, specifically those pesky sugar molecules that enjoy bonding to teeth.
Keep Clear of Sweet Snacks
Snacking on sweets puts you at an increased risk of cavities. This spells double-trouble if you plan to keep grabbing sugary treats from the candy bowl. This can create a dental dilemma. Keep clear of other sweets and sugars if you plan to indulge a bit extra on your Halloween candy.
Be Mindful of Ingredients
Avoid hard candy or other sweets that may stay in your mouth for a while. Besides how frequently you snack, the length of time sugary food is in your mouth correlates directly to tooth decay and increased plaque. Unless you have a sugar-free product, candies that stay in the mouth for a long period of time link teeth to an increased risk of tooth decay.
What a Mess!
Sticky candy may cling to your teeth. The stickier candies, like gummies, or perhaps taffy, take longer to get washed away by saliva, increasing the risk for tooth decay.
Set Boundaries
It’s tempting to keep that Halloween candy in stock, but your teeth will thank you if you limit your stash. Check out candy buyback programs or perhaps donate some of the candy you dislike to those families or troops who could really appreciate it. It’s another way to savor some sweetness without snacking.
Maintain a Healthy Diet
Your body is like a complex machine. What you put on the inside eventually shows up on the outside.
Chew Gum with the ADA Seal
Chewing sugarless gum for 20 minutes after meals can help reduce tooth decay. Increased saliva flow again helps wash out food and neutralize the acid produced by bacteria. You can perhaps circumvent some candy eating by using this method to ward off cravings.
Brush Twice a Day
Brush your teeth two or three times a day for two minutes with a reputable toothpaste. Remember to replace your toothbrush every three or four months, or sooner if the bristles are disheveled. A worn toothbrush won’t do a wonderful job of cleaning your teeth.
Clean Between Your Teeth
Floss your teeth once a day. Decay-causing bacteria travels between teeth where toothbrush bristles can’t reach. Flossing helps remove plaque and food particles from between the teeth and under the gums.
Visit Smiles in Framingham!
We would love to provide you with more helpful tips to make the most of your healthy mouth. We are always here to inform you of the facts and steer you in the right direction toward your best health. Schedule an exam today to get started on the road to your best health. Visit Smiles in Framingham!
