The Halloween season has arrived, and with it comes lots of fun activities and treats. However, too much sugar could mean the risk of tooth decay and threats to your gum health too. But you can take actions to safeguard your smile during the spooky season. In today’s blog, your Londonderry, NH, dentist talks about avoiding cavities during Halloween.
How Too Much Sugar Causes Cavities
Many of our holiday favorites, from candy to seasonal coffees, contain high amounts of sugar. When we consume these items, particles of sugar tend to cling to the teeth or become trapped between them. Even if you brush and floss, sticky and tough ingredients like caramel and toffee could remain in place, allowing bacteria to break down the particles to create plaque buildup. These sticky layers then coat your teeth and eventually weaken outer enamel, which leads to tooth decay and discomfort. The tooth could even develop an infection! But we have a few ideas for enjoying your Halloween favorites without putting your smile at excess risk for tooth decay.
Helping Smiles Stay Safe During Halloween
Our team wants to protect your smile. First, consider having your kids pick their favorite pieces for their trick or treating haul, and save them while trading the rest to you for a small toy or a chance to do a fun activity. You should also limit how many they eat a day, and reserve them for just after dinner. Doing so means the increased saliva production can help remove sugar particles, and a glass of water with your treats helps as well. If you are handing out treats in your neighborhood or building, consider offering sugar-free options or even small party favors.
Everyone also needs to brush and floss each day, which helps remove stray particles to protect smiles from the onset of tooth decay, while also fighting bad breath and teeth stains.
See Our Team for Treatment
You can also see our team to help safeguard your smiles! With a routine dental cleaning, our team can remove all plaque and tartar from the teeth to help limit the risk of not only cavities, but gum disease too. For kids, we can provide fluoride treatments to help strengthen the outer enamel and make the onset of cavities less likely. Since kids have trouble reaching the rear teeth, we can also place dental sealants, which coat these teeth and prevent sugar from being caught between them, preventing cavities for years to come. If you have any questions about avoiding Halloween cavities, then contact our team today.
Schedule An Appointment for a Dental Exam
Our team wants to help you enjoy Halloween without the risk of tooth decay and toothaches. You can schedule an appointment with our team at My Dentist in Londonderry, NH, today by calling 603-965-3407.
