Kids may be the ones out collecting candy on Halloween, but that doesn’t mean adults are spared the temptation of all those sugary treats. Whether you’re handing out candy at the door or you’re digging through your kid’s sack of treats in search of hazards, you’re going to be confronted by a lot of bite-sized confections, and your teeth can suffer the damage of overindulgence following the first of many food-centric, end-of-year holidays.
The good news is, you have several options to explore when it comes to minimizing the damage all that sugar can do to your teeth at this time of year, and your kids can benefit from targeted changes, as well. Here are just a few ways to protect your teeth and maintain good oral health this Halloween.
1. Limit sugar intake
When confronted with scads of treats, it’s all too easy to mindlessly overindulge. However, sugar is bad for both your teeth and your caloric intake, so you need to be aware of how much you’re consuming and limit your intake. This could mean limiting yourself to just a couple pieces of candy per day, or cutting back on soda to counteract the added sugar in your diet. Better yet, you might just want to indulge for a couple days and then throw out whatever candy is left to remove all temptation.
2. Consider the source
You might think all sugar is the same, but some types of candy are a lot worse for your teeth than others. For example, sticky substances like caramel and nougat can cling to teeth, causing more damage than mere chocolate. Hard candies that you suck or bite can also cause sugar to stay in your mouth longer, and they could damage teeth if you bite down too hard. These types of candy should be avoided.
3. Take care with costuming
Some costumes require you to make a number of cosmetic changes to your appearance, such as blacking out teeth or adding prosthetics. Just make sure to use products that are approved for these purposes and to always use them appropriately to avoid damage to teeth.
4. Rethink your routine
If you’re adding some sugar to your diet, you should counteract it with extra brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash throughout the day, as well as additional hydration and rinsing with water. This will help to reduce film on teeth that could lead to plaque and tartar buildup, or even worse issues like gum disease and tooth decay. Contact your dentist for further advice or to schedule additional cleaning as needed.
