While many holidays commemorate important events or recognize admirable ideals, Halloween exists solely for the sake of fun, costumes, candy, and spookiness. While the last day in October can be an absolute blast for children and adults, factors like the massive amounts of sugar consumed can cause many people to need emergency dental treatments in early November. Here are a few tips for keeping your Halloween and the months following it fun and dental emergency-free.
Keep the Teeth-Eating Monsters Away with Excellent Oral Hygiene
Truth is scarier than fiction, so it’s a great idea to remind yourself that your teeth are surrounded by microscopic monsters that want to eat them alive before indulging in your Halloween sweets. The human mouth is home to multitudes of harmful oral bacteria, and the sugary residue candy leaves behind gives them the fuel they need to multiply rapidly and infect the teeth and gum tissues. To prevent dental emergencies, keep up with a year-round daily oral hygiene regimen that includes, brushing, flossing, and antibacterial mouthwash to eliminate food debris and kill harmful germs.
Limit Your Sugar Intake to Keep Harmful Bacteria from Haunting Your Teeth
People often eat too much candy during the Halloween season, so it’s a great idea to know which sweets are gentler on your teeth so you can practice better moderation. Dark chocolate is low in sugar and high in antioxidants, and it can even help rub away plaque during the chewing process. Dentists recommend chewing sugar-free gum after snacks and meals to freshen your breath and remove plaque and food debris. While high in sugar, raisins have the highest known concentration of fluoride, which helps fight tooth decay that can lead to dental emergencies.
You Can’t Run from the Monsters if You’re Too Dehydrated
Fluoridated water is the best beverage for your oral health, and it’s readily available in bottles and taps across the country. Drinking water naturally helps dilute and wash away plaque and food debris while keeping the body hydrated enough for adequate saliva flow. If you’re enjoying your candy, take care to drink plenty of water with it to help minimize the amount of sugar clinging to your teeth. This can help prevent serious oral health emergencies such as toothaches or advanced gum disease.
Halloween is tons of fun, but a dental emergency like a splitting toothache is a great way to ruin any good time. By taking care of your smile during this Halloween, you can help ensure that you won’t need to see your dentist for emergency care in November.
About the Practice
Burncoat Family Dental provides oral healthcare of the highest quality to the community of Worcester. Led by Drs. Michel Damerji and Monaf Alyassi, the staff ensures that each patient receives compassionate care in a welcoming and judgment-free environment. Areas of expertise include general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry. For more tips on keeping your family’s smiles in great shape this Halloween, contact the office online or dial (508) 852-0168.