10 Dental Tips for a Healthy Halloween – 2019
It’s October, so that means it’s time for pumpkin carvings, costume shopping and the dreaded candy-mania for kids. Parents, get ready for some hyper kids and some fun trick or treating.
These Dental Tips for a Healthy Halloween are meant to help you and your kids get through the Halloween holidays with the help of some healthy alternatives to Halloween’s normal Sugar Bug Filled days.
We realize everyone will still eat sugar, chocolate and candycorn, but we’re hoping these tips will help you protect yourself more than last year. Let us know if you have any questions in the comments. Happy Halloween !!
Dental Tips for a Healthy Halloween #1 :
Eat your candy all at once, rather than snacking randomly throughout the day.
Cavities are more likely to happen if you eat sugary snacks over a longer period of time compared to eating all your candy in one sitting.
When you eat sugary snacks, the sugar bugs will release acid on your teeth and break down the enamel. This release of acid on your teeth will create a more acidic environment ( Called Demineralization or the breakdown of your Enamel Crystals ) in your mouth, which will increase the likelihood of a cavities.
Your Mouth takes approximately 3-4 hours to remineralize your enamel molecules to a balanced ph of 7.
Dental Tips for a Healthy Halloween #2 :
Decorate healthy snacks (like apples and cellery ) to look like spooky characters instead of candy for halloween
Sugary snacks can cause cavities, so have fun in a healthier and more nutritious way this year.
Dental Tips for a Healthy Halloween #3 :
Drink Tap Water Throughout the day, and skip the sugary drinks like pepsi and root beer.
Tap water contains fluoride, which will strengthen your enamel and decrease the chances of getting Cavities.
Dental Tips for a Healthy Halloween #4 :
Buy orange plastic cups, and use Black ink to draw pumpkin Faces on them. Fill ’em up with water, and drink throughout the day.
Dental Tips for a Healthy Halloween #5 :
Brush 2 times per day using an ADA approved Toothbrush and ADA approved Toothpaste.
Brushing twice a day is recommended by the ADA to keep your teeth and gums happy, healthy, and cavity free. If you can brush after every meal, that would be ideal.
Dental Tips for a Healthy Halloween #6 :
Clean between your teeth with Ortho Floss Picks
Whether you have braces or not, Floss picks are great to travel with. They are small, and most of them come with a carrying case for you to slip them into your purse, backpack or pocket.
7. Clean your mouth with a Water Flosser
Water Flossers work great for everyone, except for kids under 12 generally. They can be messy if you don’t know how they work, but they are great for firming up your gums, and flushing out your gums.
If you’re going to be eating Sticky candy all day, this should definitely be at the top of your list of things to get.
According to Waterpik’s Study, “The Effect of a Dental Water Jet with Orthodontic Tip on Plaque and Bleeding in Adolescent Orthodontic Patients with Fixed Appliances”, Sharma NC, Lyle DM, Qaqish JG finds that
“….The Waterpik® Water Flosser is 3X as Effective as String Floss for Orthodontic Patients”
Water Flossers can be a great asset to preventing those with braces to give up on their Oral Health Care Routine, so keep this in mind when thinking about these Dental Tips for a Healthy Halloween.
8. Limit Sugary Snacks to one time per day.
The more frequent your mouth is exposed to sugar and sugar bugs, the more likely your mouth will be at a lower PH. This lower PH in your mouth makes it easier for Cavities to develop and sugar bugs to damage your tooth enamel.
9. After eating any sugary snacks, drink or rinse out your mouth with tap water, and wait at least 30 minutes to brush your teeth.
Brushing your teeth right after you eat sugary snacks can actually damage your teeth. The sugary snacks temporarily weakens your enamel, and your toothbrush can actually damage your enamel while it’s weak.
The best thing is to wait 30 minutes and drink water, so your enamel and mouth PH can get closer to neutral ph. There will be less damage to your teeth this way
10. Chew Sugar Free Gum or Gum containing Xylitol
Xylitol is fake sugar that Sugar bugs can not diegest. Sugar bugs that try to digest Xylitol will die trying to metabolize Xylitol, which can actually help protect you from cavities.
Mouthhealthy website says that some studies have evidence that “chewing sugarless gum for 20 minutes following meals can help prevent tooth decay.”
10 Dental Tips for a Healthy Halloween – 2019
Why should I eat my Halloween candy all at once rather than snacking randomly throughout the day ?
Cavities are more likely to happen if you eat sugary snacks over a longer period of time compared to eating all your candy in one sitting. When you eat sugary snacks, the sugar bugs will release acid on your teeth and break down the enamel. This release of acid on your teeth will create a more acidic environment ( Called Demineralization or the breakdown of your Enamel Crystals ) in your mouth, which will increase the likelihood of a cavities. Your Mouth takes approximately 3-4 hours to remineralize your enamel molecules to a balanced ph of 7.
Why should you drink Tap Water Throughout the day, and skip the sugary drinks like pepsi and root beer ?
Tap water contains fluoride, which will strengthen your enamel and decrease the chances of getting Cavities.
Why, after eating sugary snacks, should you wait at least 30 minutes to brush your teeth?
Brushing your teeth right after you eat sugary snacks can actually damage your teeth. The sugary snacks temporarily weakens your enamel, and your toothbrush can actually damage your enamel while it’s weak. The best thing is to wait 30 minutes and drink water, so your enamel and mouth PH can get closer to neutral ph. There will be less damage to your teeth this way
Why should you only chew Sugar-free Gum or Gum with Xylitol ?
Xylitol is fake sugar that Sugar bugs can not diegest. Sugar bugs that try to digest Xylitol will die trying to metabolize Xylitol, which can actually help protect you from cavities.
What kind of healthy snacks can I create using apples and cellery to look like spooky characters instead of candy for halloween?
Sugary snacks can cause cavities, so have fun in a healthier and more nutritious way this year.
Why should I eat my Halloween candy all at once rather than snacking randomly throughout the day ?
Cavities are more likely to happen if you eat sugary snacks over a longer period of time compared to eating all your candy in one sitting. When you eat sugary snacks, the sugar bugs will release acid on your teeth and break down the enamel. This release of acid on your teeth will create a more acidic environment ( Called Demineralization or the breakdown of your Enamel Crystals ) in your mouth, which will increase the likelihood of a cavities. Your Mouth takes approximately 3-4 hours to remineralize your enamel molecules to a balanced ph of 7.
Why should you drink Tap Water Throughout the day, and skip the sugary drinks like pepsi and root beer ?
Tap water contains fluoride, which will strengthen your enamel and decrease the chances of getting Cavities.
Why, after eating sugary snacks, should you wait at least 30 minutes to brush your teeth?
Brushing your teeth right after you eat sugary snacks can actually damage your teeth. The sugary snacks temporarily weakens your enamel, and your toothbrush can actually damage your enamel while it’s weak. The best thing is to wait 30 minutes and drink water, so your enamel and mouth PH can get closer to neutral ph. There will be less damage to your teeth this way
Why should you only chew Sugar-free Gum or Gum with Xylitol ?
Xylitol is fake sugar that Sugar bugs can not diegest. Sugar bugs that try to digest Xylitol will die trying to metabolize Xylitol, which can actually help protect you from cavities.
What kind of healthy snacks can I create using apples and cellery to look like spooky characters instead of candy for halloween?
Sugary snacks can cause cavities, so have fun in a healthier and more nutritious way this year.