Dental Tips For a Healthy Halloween
For many children, Halloween is a time to get your hands on plenty of sweet treats and lollies - which can be bad news for their teeth. Whether they’re going trick-or-treating or having a Halloween party with friends, here’s how to ensure your kids have a healthy Halloween that’s not scary for their oral health!
Choose Your Lollies Carefully
When it comes to their effect on your teeth, not all lollies are created equal. Sweets that stay in your mouth for a long time, such as sucking candies or hard lollies that take longer to break up, can increase the risk of tooth decay, with more sugar building up on the tooth's surface.
Swap Out Sticky Sweets
The stickier the lolly, the more it will cling to your teeth, which means more time for damaging sugars and acid to be deposited on the surface of the tooth. Sticky lollies like gummy bears will take longer to get washed away by saliva, increasing your risk of tooth decay.
Skip the Sweet Snacks
While it’s hard to go past the Halloween lollies, try to avoid having sweet treats readily available at all times. Rather than snacking on lollies throughout the day, aim to only bring out the lolly bowl at a certain time in order to avoid sugary snacking at all hours.
Get the Timing Right
If you’re going to indulge in Halloween lollies, it’s better to eat them with meals or shortly after mealtime. As saliva production increases during meals, it can help to remove the sugary debris that builds up on your teeth when you consume sugary foods.
Drink Plenty of Water
Staying hydrated by drinking enough water can help to reduce your risk of tooth decay by washing away the sugars and acids present in sweets and lollies. It’s also a good idea to rinse your mouth out with water straight after eating lollies, so you can remove any debris left on your teeth.
Stay Away From Sugary Beverages
If you’re reaching for the lolly bowl more often, try to avoid sugary drinks such as fizzy beverages, fruit juices and flavoured waters. Not only will these add to your daily sugar intake, but they can increase your chance of tooth decay and cavities.
Consider Going Sugar-Free
You’ll find plenty of sugar-free lolly options in your local supermarket, many of which offer all the tasty sweetness of traditional lollies without the tooth-damaging sugar hit. If you’re concerned about your child’s oral health, it may be a good idea to opt for sugar-free lollies and avoid the risks.
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene Practices
When eating a higher amount of sugary foods than normal, it’s even more important to stick to your daily oral hygiene routine. That means brushing your teeth for two minutes twice a day, as well as flossing once a day to remove decay-producing bacteria.
By following the oral health tips above, you can help your children have a happy Halloween that doesn’t lead to dental nightmares! Need to make an appointment with your National Dental Care / DB Dental dentist? You can now.