October is a great month. Fall is creeping in and people are staring to get cozy. The most notable day of this month is Halloween. This month is chock-full of sugary snacks from Halloween parties, trick-or-treating, and of course, pumpkin spiced lattes! We are here to offer you some October tips, to help you minimize tooth damage if you choose to indulge in the sweet stuff!
- Keep up a good oral hygiene routine
Especially if you are eating a lot of sugar, it is important to continue brushing and flossing regularly. If you are up to it, you can even bump up your flossing routine to twice a day to make sure you get the acid and bacteria out from between your teeth that your brush won’t get to. - Be mindful of what you choose to consume!
Choose your candy carefully, especially when it comes to sticky candy, sour candy, and candy that lasts! The bacteria and acid from sticky candy takes a bit longer to get washed away with your saliva and water. Sour candy can be hard on your enamel. Also, it’s not just the candy that you should be mindful of, but also your beverages! Try to avoid drinking sugary beverages. The longer your teeth are exposed to the sugar the more tooth decay risk there is. - Drink plenty of water
Water will help you to flush out loose bacteria and acid that the sugary sweets added to your mouth. Be sure to drink plenty of it with and after you indulge! - Try sugar-free gum
Try chewing on sugar free gum after you eat your candy. Along with water, it helps to wash away bacteria and acid by increasing the saliva flow in your mouth. - Schedule a teeth cleaning!
This is a perfect time to come into our office so you can get your teeth cleaned and have a professional give you a check-up. Call us today for your appointment!
Happy Halloween!