Halloween is only a few days away, so you may be busy picking out a scary costume. Perhaps you want to dress up as a vampire, or you’re considering a zombie outfit. Whatever you choose, though, don’t let your costume include unhealthy teeth. The latter might look eerie, but they wouldn’t benefit your Halloween experience. Luckily, your dentist in San Marcos is here to ensure your smile stays strong. Read on to learn three essential dental care tips for your All Hallows’ Eve.
Be Picky About Your Candy
If you didn’t already know, some candies are worse for teeth than others. For that reason, you should try to avoid the riskier ones.
Take hard and sticky sweets, for instance. They take longer to dissolve and raise your risk of tooth decay. Adding insult to injury, biting into hard candies could even break or crack one of your teeth.
If you’d prefer safer candy options, try chocolate and sugarless gum. Chocolate washes off teeth more easily than other candies, and dark chocolate is even better since it has less sugar. Sugarless gum, meanwhile, increases saliva flow to help you wash away food and tooth-eroding acids.
Drink Water & Eat Healthily
If you don’t want treats to ruin your teeth, try to drink and eat healthy things for your meals.
As for drinks, water would be your best choice. It prevents cavities by washing away the sugar that clings to your teeth. In contrast, sugary beverages could give you tooth decay.
You’d also do well to eat a balanced diet, which would benefit your overall health and your oral health. “Filling up” on good foods like leafy greens, lean proteins, dairy, and whole grains will make you less likely to binge on candy.
Keep Up Your Oral Hygiene
Of course, practicing good oral hygiene is the best way to protect teeth on Halloween. In other words, remember always to brush your teeth twice daily and floss once daily. Furthermore, make sure your brush time is at least two minutes per session!
You see, brushing and flossing prevent leftover sweets from sticking to your teeth overnight. Fluoridated toothpaste also strengthens your tooth enamel, thus making decay and cavities less likely.
Ultimately, Halloween is better spent with a healthy smile than a dirty and scary one. That said, practice these tips from your dentist in San Marcos — they’ll make your 31st frightfully good!
About the Practice
San Marcos Gentle Dental is based in San Marcos, TX. As led by Dr. J. Robert Donnelly, our practice emphasizes family dentistry for all ages. To that end, we perform a variety of preventive, cosmetic, and restorative treatments, including emergency care procedures. We’re also certified providers of dental sedation services and Invisalign clear aligners. For more information or to book a visit, you can reach us on our website or by phone at (512)-396-5225.