How To Stay On Top Of Your Oral Hygiene This Halloween

October is the month that the temperatures really begin to change, which signals the month of ghosts, ghouls, and zombies! While it may be the season of spooks, it doesn't mean that you want to scare people off with bad breath and cavities. So, here are a few tips to help you ensure that you and your family are staying on top of your oral hygiene during the Halloween season.

Only Consume Candy at Certain Times of Day

Halloween candy should only be consumed at mealtime or just after finishing your meal as a dessert. The reason for this is because your saliva production will increase when you are eating. This increased production helps to cancel out the acids that are produced by the bacteria within your mouth, thereby rinsing away the particles of food.

Keep the Candy as a Treat Rather than an Afternoon Snack

Candy should never be treated as a snack, as this can increase the overall risk of cavities forming due to the fact that the sugars continue to sit there on your teeth all day and eat at your enamel. Therefore, Halloween candy should be put away in the cabinet until you want a piece of two as a dessert/treat after dinner.

Avoid the Sour Candies

There are certain types of candies that are worse for your teeth than others, and unfortunately, sour candies are one of those. The reason for this is because they are particularly acidic. So, as you are going through your candy after trick-or-treating, if you trying to figure out one type of candy to throw away, the sour candies should be it. The sour component of the candy simply causes the enamel to be eaten away faster than with just the sugar component alone.

Keep Yourself Hydrated While Eating Candy

As you eat candy, make sure that you are drinking plenty of water. This will help to flush away the sugar from your teeth as you are eating. In fact, the water that you are drinking should be fluoridated, especially if it is bottled water. This just helps to keep your teeth strengthened and healthy.

Maintain Your Regular Oral Hygiene Routine

One way to keep your oral hygiene intact through the Halloween season is to continue brushing and flossing twice and once a day, respectively. Brushing will help ensure that any sugar that you eat throughout the day does not stick to your teeth while flossing will remove any food particles that have become stuck between your teeth that the bristles of your toothbrush cannot reach.

For more information on keeping your teeth and gums healthy this Halloween or to schedule your checkup, contact a family dentist.