As Halloween gets closer, it’s easy to get into the spirit of the “spooky season.” In particular, you might set up scary home décor, pick out a frightening costume, or watch a bunch of horror films. That said, make sure these frights don’t extend to your smile. Terrible teeth might work for a Halloween outfit, but they’ll do long-term damage to your oral health! Luckily, your dentist in Lincoln is here to help. Read on to learn four dental tips that’ll keep your smile strong this All Hallow’s Eve.
Only Eat Candy at Mealtimes
Even if you’re tempted, don’t just binge on Halloween candy during the 31st. Rather, only let yourself have these sweets with meals or shortly after mealtime.
You see, your mouth produces more saliva during meals. In doing so, it cancels out acids produced by bacteria and rinses away food particles. Having candy at such times, then, would reduce its harmful effects. More specifically, a “candy at mealtime” rule limits the time that sugar has contact with your teeth.
Set a Limit on Treats
Another good move is to limit the number of treats you eat. After all, having less candy means less sugar will erode your enamel.
For instance, keep your favorite sweets while giving away the rest. You might donate some to organizations that accept sweets for good causes. Alternatively, your dentist might have a candy-take-back program.
If you do keep a bunch of treats, though, try sorting them into type-based piles: chocolate, gummies, hard candy, and so on. From there, make a rule about how often you or your kids can enjoy these sweets — perhaps once or twice a week. Store the candy out of sight to ensure this guideline is easy to follow.
Keep Up Your Oral Hygiene
More than anything else, good oral hygiene is the best way to protect teeth on Halloween. Namely, brushing your teeth twice daily and flossing once daily.
It’s crucial to brush and floss after eating candy. A soft-bristled toothbrush with fluoridated toothpaste will remove excess sugar from your teeth. Furthermore, floss gets at those bits of decay-causing bacteria and plaque that bristles can’t reach.
As you can see, your dentist in Lincoln has many ways to keep Halloween from ruining your smile. Therefore, use tips like those above to ensure your teeth stay strong!
About the Practice
Olberding Dental is based in Lincoln, Nebraska. As led by the titular Dr. Louis Olberding, our practice offers the peak of modern dental care! To that end, we perform advanced preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry, not to mention emergency procedures. Furthermore, we’re a certified provider of Invisalign clear aligners and periodontal therapy. For more information or to book a visit, you can reach us on our website or by phone at (402)-488-2325.