Celebrating Halloween is fun; carving pumpkins, dressing up, watching scary movies, and eating candy are all ways we enjoy this season!
Embracing these traditions is great, however, make sure to take care of your teeth! When we consume candy, the bacteria in our mouth increases, which make us prone to damage like gum disease and cavities.
In order to combat this issue, lets highlight a few important tips so that you won’t be haunted by the perils of an unhealthy smile.
How to Keep Your Mouth Healthy During Halloween
Eat a Healthy Diet. A balanced diet is your best friend, especially when you are preparing to overindulge. You are less likely to feel bad about reaching for that extra sugary snack if you are consuming a variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Keep an eye out for processed starches and added sugars- avoid beverages like soda, sweetened tea, and juices!
Eat Candy After a Meal. Trust us, your mouth and tummy will thank you for consuming candy on a full stomach. When we consume a meal, our saliva production kicks into high gear; this is nature’s way of cleaning our mouths. In fact, the best time to opt for a treat is when our mouths are in this cleaning stage, sugar is less likely to linger, and you won’t consider overindulging because you just ate a full meal!
Choose Wisely. Believe it or not, some candies do more damage than others. Choosing chocolate or easily dissolvable snacks means your teeth receive less contact time with sugar. Going for a sticky or hard candy prolongs sugar exposure, increasing the odds of an unhealthy smile.
On behalf of Greeley Dental Health, we wish you and your family a happy, healthy, safe (and spooky) Halloween!