Halloween is a lot of people’s favorite holiday. It’s an opportunity to dress up, go out, and maybe indulge in some foods that you wouldn’t normally eat. Candy is arguably the reason for the season, but if you wind up with a mouth full of cavities that can take a lot of the fun out of the holiday.
There are a few things you can keep in mind if you’re trying to enjoy the holidays without developing any oral health problems. Here are some tips that may help you.
Avoid Snacking on Candy
As you’d probably guess, limiting your candy consumption is one of the best things you can do this time of year for your oral health. However, telling people to abstain entirely from sweets this time of year isn’t all that effective.
If you’re going to indulge, you might as well be smart about it. For example, if you eat candy, you may want to do so all at once as opposed to throughout the day. This gives you an opportunity to brush thoroughly after eating, and allows the saliva in your mouth to break down some of the sugars.
Pick Your Candy
It’s also the case that some kinds of candy are worse for your teeth than others. In general, the longer that sugar from candy lingers in your mouth, the more likely they are to cause cavities.
For that reason, it’s better to opt for candies that don’t stick to the teeth. Instead of gummy or caramel candies, you should try to stick to chocolaty sweets that can be washed away easily.
Stay Hydrated
As was mentioned previously, the saliva in your mouth can break down food particles and carry them into the stomach. In this way, it is instrumental in preventing gum disease and tooth decay.
Drinking water as you eat stimulates saliva production and washes away food particles. Staying hydrated in general is a good idea, but it’s especially important when indulging in candy.
About the Author
Dr. Beverly Rose is an experienced dentist who loves every part of her field. She enjoys the science of dentistry, but also revels in getting to meet and help all kinds of people through her work at her practice. Dr. Rose received her degree from the University of Florida College of Dentistry and has been working in her field for over 20 years. To stay up with on the latest developments in oral medicine, she has studied with the prestigious Las Vegas Institute and the International Association of Comprehensive Aesthetics.
If you have any questions about how to stay healthy this Halloween, she can be reached at her website or by phone at (321) 259-4666.