How To Keep Your Teeth Healthy During Halloween

Halloween is upon us, and for most children, and even adults, that means lots of candy. This can present all of us with a lot of dental health challenges. While it’s okay to eat candy on Halloween, it’s important to have a plan for healthy teeth for your home. At Parker West Dental Associates, Dr. Tim Nguyen can help his patients throughout Plano, TX learn how Halloween candy and teeth go hand in hand.

What does sugar do to your teeth and gums?

Everyone knows that eating too much sugar or candy can lead to tooth decay. The mouth is full of many bacteria, some harmful, that feeds on sugars that you eat to create acids that destroy your tooth enamel. This leads to cavities, a bacterial infection created by acids that causes holes in the teeth. Without treatment, cavities can progress through the enamel into deeper layers of the tooth, causing severe pain. Cutting down on sugar helps reduce your risk of tooth decay. If you do choose to indulge, regular brushing and flossing help ensure your teeth remain looking and feeling their best in Plano, TX.

Halloween and dental health tips

When it comes to ensuring your oral health remains at its best, follow these tips during the Halloween season:

1. Time it right: Eat candy with meals or shortly after one. During a meal, your saliva production increases, which can help cancel out harmful acids that are produced by bacteria in the mouth.

2. Choose candy wisely: Avoid hard candy and other candy that may stay in the mouth for long periods. The length of time that sugary food is in your mouth plays an influential role in if you get tooth decay. Avoid sticky candy that clings to the teeth since they take longer to be washed away by your saliva.

3. Drink more water: Fluoridated water helps reduce tooth decay. If you drink bottled water, choose a fluoridated kind.

4. Eat a healthy diet: The food you choose to eat and how often affects your general health; this includes candy.

5. Chew sugar-free gum: Chewing sugar-free gum for at least 20 minutes after meals helps reduce tooth decay. This is because it promotes increased saliva flow. Choose one with an ADA seal.

6. Brush at least twice a day: Brushing your teeth at least twice daily for two minutes is important. Replace your toothbrush when the bristles become frayed or every three to four months.

7. Floss: Floss your teeth once a day. This is important as floss gets between teeth where your toothbrush can’t reach, and removes plaque and food left between the teeth and under the gumline.

8. Visit the dentist regularly: Regular dental exams and routine dental cleanings at Parker West Dental Associates help prevent problems from occurring, and if they do, they can be treated early.

What happens during a dental exam?

At Parker West Dental Associates, Dr. Nguyen examines his patients’ teeth and gums in

Plano, TX to look for potential tooth decay or periodontal disease. Detecting problems early reduces your chances of getting tooth pain or serious problems later. Ultimately, a dental exam and routine dental cleaning are important to maintaining good dental health.

Learn oral hygiene tips to keep your teeth healthy

When you have a sweet tooth and want to enjoy candy this Halloween, it’s important to follow good oral hygiene to prevent tooth decay. At Parker West Dental Associates, Dr. Tim Nguyen can offer helpful tips on how to enjoy candy without risking your oral health. To schedule an appointment for a dental exam or dental cleaning, call our Plano, TX dental office today.