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Oct 18, 2018|Healthy Halloween

Healthy Halloween Tips

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Two times of year lead to some of the worst dental problems and eating habits. These times include Halloween, a holiday focusing on candies and sweets from trick-or-treating, and the December holidays of Hanukkah, Christmas, and the New Year. Halloween leads to many cavities and chipped, broken, or cracked teeth, among other problems. So this year, consider these healthy Halloween tips from Signature Smiles Dentistry in Parker, Colorado.

Why Do You Need Healthy Halloween Tips for Your Teeth?

Healthy Halloween tips from the American Dental Association provide some of the best ways to keep your smile and mouth healthy despite this sugary holiday. The ADA recommends:

  • Eat candy at the right time of day
  • Avoid sugary snacks
  • Choose candy carefully
  • Stay away from sticky sweets
  • Plan when to allow your children to eat their candies
  • Drink more water
  • Maintain a healthy diet
  • Avoid sugary drinks
  • Chew gum bearing the ADA seal
Limiting Your Exposure to Halloween Sweets

The first five ADA healthy Halloween tips focus on the timing of your candy consumption, as well as how long, or often you continue to eat these tooth-damaging foods.

First, time your Halloween candy eating with or just after meals. By doing this, you take advantage of the greater saliva flow of mealtime to wash away food particles and destroy bacteria acids. Also, limit candy eating to mealtimes for your best oral health.

Avoid hard candies and sweets like lollipops, the ones staying in your mouth for an extended period. The best candies are those that are chewed and swallowed like mealtime foods. The longer a sweet remains in the mouth, the longer it has to start the process of tooth decay. This ties into avoiding sticky candies that cling to the tooth’s surface, for the same reasons.

Limiting the time of candy eating is one thing. But continuing candy-eating for too many days or too much with each sitting causes problems. So plan for your healthiest Halloween by choosing favorite candies or snacks, then giving away or throwing out the rest.

Roles of Foods and Drinks in Healthy Halloweens

Drink plenty of fluoridated water to help prevent tooth decay and wash away candy sugars. If you buy bottled water, look for those with fluoride.

Obviously, eating a healthy diet helps to balance the sugary sweets of Halloween. The more quality food you consume before candies, the less candy you eat.

Also avoid sugary sodas, sports drinks, and water. Sugary beverages cause an increased risk of tooth decay.

Finally, chew sugarless gum for 20 minutes after each meal. This helps improve saliva flow, with saliva helping to prevent cavities.

Visit Your Dentist after Halloween

One of the best things you can do for yourself is to maintain a schedule of twice-yearly dental visits. Make it a routine to visit the dentist after Halloween, too. Your dentist can check for dental problems because of Halloween snacking.

Dental services in Parker CO you need twice yearly or more include:

In Parker, Colorado, consider these healthy Halloween tips for your best dental health. Also, schedule your first visit with Signature Smiles Dentistry by calling 720-513-8405.

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