Blog Highlights

• Caries or cavities are often caused by long exposure to sugary or sour substances
• Monitor how much candy you and your family consume
• Remind your children to brush their teeth twice a day

Halloween: a favorite holiday among children; a dentist’s worst nightmare. Candies, chocolates, and sugary sweets will fill bowls and bags and mouths. With Halloween only a few weeks away, we’re here to remind you to take care of your teeth!

Here are a few tips to help your teeth survive this Halloween:

Avoid Sticky Sweets

Caries or cavities are often caused by long exposure to sugary or sour substances. Bacteria that lives in our mouths feeds on sweet foods and liquids, breaking them down into an acid that causes cavities. Candies that stick to your teeth, such as taffy, caramels, and gummies should be avoided if possible. These candies are more likely to linger in your mouth increasing your chances of cavities.

Leave the Evidence

Monitor how much candy you and your family consume by leaving the empty wrappers in a visible place. Every time you see the collection of wrappers you’ll be reminded of how much candy you’ve sampled. With any hope, this will deter you from dipping into the pile/bucket/bag of sweets too many times.

Sugar-Free Gum

Another way you might try to lower your intake of sugar is to chew sugar-free gum. The gum will satisfy your sweet tooth while simultaneously helping to protect your teeth. Studies have shown that sugar-free gum can actually be beneficial for your teeth. The bacteria in your mouth can’t feed on sorbitol and xylitol, the sweeteners often used in sugar-free gum, which in turn reduces the level of cavity-causing acid in your mouth.

Talk to Your Children

Halloween is a great time to remind your children to brush their teeth twice a day. Don’t forget to enforce a flossing routine, too. On Halloween, and the days after, encourage your children to brush their teeth right after eating the sweets. If it’s not possible to brush immediately, we recommend eating the sweets in a short amount of time, not by snacking or grazing, and drinking a glass of water to rinse away any excess sugar.

Have a Happy Halloween and don’t forget to schedule your regular dental cleaning!