Comprehensive Dental Care

dental hygieneIf you’ve ever celebrated Halloween with a child (or as a child), you won’t be surprised to find out that more candy is sold during the Halloween holiday than at any other time of the year. Add to that the timely appearance of pumpkin-inspired treats, and it’s easy to overdue the sugar consumption this time of year. If you’re looking to keep your family’s dental hygiene top-notch (and we know you are), here are a few ways you can do it.

Drink lots of water.

In many parts of the country, public water contains fluoride, which can really help protect your teeth from tartar buildup and tooth decay. That, along with hydration, is a great reason to keep the water flowing all day long.

Eat sweets with meals.

Eating a serving of candy or another sweet treat right after a meal is a good idea. That’s because, as you eat, your saliva production increases, which helps rinse away food particles and neutralize acids in the mouth. Eating your treats while your saliva production is high can help prevent tooth decay.

Ditch the chewy stuff.

If taffy, gummy bears and sour patch kids are your candies of choice, it may be time to find a new indulgence. These sticky candies cling to your teeth and make it difficult for your saliva to do its job to wash the particles away.

Avoid the hard stuff.

Along with the chewy candy, hard candy isn’t your best bet either. That’s because hard candy requires you to hold it in your mouth for long periods of time, allowing the sugar to build up on your teeth and put you at an increased risk for tooth decay. Stick to chocolate (for so many reasons).

Keep up the hygiene.

From parties to late nights trick-or-treating, this time of year is pretty busy for families. That makes it much more important to keep up on proper dental hygiene routines, from teeth brushing and flossing to dental exams.

The moment of truth: what’s YOUR favorite Halloween candy?