As Halloween gets closer and closer, we are all looking forward to enjoying our favorite sweet treats and candies. At Balaci Oral and Facial Surgery, we want you to enjoy your holiday without worrying about cavities or broken teeth, which is why we’ve provided some helpful tips for having your candy and eating it too with minimal damage to your smile.
Try to eat candy only once per day. Only having candy once during the day, rather than snacking on it all day, can limit the length of time your teeth are in contact with sticky caramels and sugary treats.
Rinse out your mouth with water after eating candy. You can’t always brush your teeth right after you eat. In fact, brushing your teeth right after eating extremely acidic foods, such as sour candies, can weaken tooth enamel. Wait a while before brushing if you just ate something highly acidic. Rinsing with water can help neutralize acidic candies and sugary foods while also removing excess food particles from your teeth.
Chewy candies and hard candies are more damaging than chocolate. Chewy candies get stuck in your teeth, and hard candies remain in your mouth for prolonged periods of time. This extended exposure creates more potential for tooth decay. If possible, try to steer children toward candies that dissolve more quickly, like chocolate or sugar-free suckers.
Be especially careful if you have braces, fillings, dentures, or other dental work. Super hard candies can break certain dental devices, and it can be difficult to clean between wires and permanent retainers. Avoid biting super hard or sticky candies like Jawbreakers or Abba Zabbas if you are worried about breaking a filling or dislodging part of your braces.
If you have removable dental prostheses, there may not be many candies you can eat without dislodging your prosthesis. If you would like to keep enjoying your favorite treats without worrying about your prosthesis, permanent tooth restoration options are available at our practice. Call our office for more information about permanent tooth restoration options, such as dental implants.
Have fun! Keeping children (or yourself) from enjoying Halloween will only make them want to eat more candy. Instead of trying to keep kids from eating any candy, use the holiday as an opportunity to educate children about moderation and proper dental hygiene. Teaching children the importance of flossing and brushing properly will do more to prevent oral health problems than depriving them of candy for a couple of nights.
The whole team at Balaci Oral and Facial Surgery wants to wish you a happy, healthy, and safe Halloween! If you’d like to learn more about some of our tooth restoration options like dental implants so you can enjoy the Halloween treats you love, contact our office today.
