Whether your Halloween plans include hosting a party, going to a haunted house, or taking your kids trick-or-treating, the last thing you want is for a dental injury to get in the way. The good news is that chipped teeth, broken restorations, and painful toothaches are often preventable – even during the season of sugar. With this in mind, keep reading for five easy tips that will help you avoid oral health problems during Halloween!
1. Be Selective About the Candy You Choose
While sticky candies are difficult to remove, crunchy ones increase the risk of a chip or crack. That’s why patients are encouraged to steer clear of taffy, lollipops, sour gummies, and the like. Instead, stick to dark chocolate bars when you can. Not only are they lower in sugar, but they also have antioxidants!
2. Eat Sweet Treats with Your Meals
During mealtimes, your saliva production increases, helping you taste, swallow, and digest your food. It also helps remove food particles from your teeth, which is why it’s a good idea to enjoy sweet treats with your lunch or dinner. It may seem insignificant, but it can go a long way in preventing tooth decay!
3. Limit Added Sugar Elsewhere
Between the candy in the breakroom at work and the stash you have at home for trick-or-treaters, it may seem like everywhere you look there’s sugar! If that’s the case, try limiting your sugar elsewhere, like choosing water instead of soda or getting a plain coffee instead of a Frappuccino.
4. Commit to a Solid Oral Hygiene Regimen
Committing to a solid oral hygiene regimen is important year-round. That said, it’s especially crucial during the season of pumpkin-spiced lattes, maple-flavored fudge, and, of course, Halloween candy. So, make sure that you brush, floss, and rinse with mouthwash consistently!
5. Schedule Your Second Checkup and Cleaning of the Year!
It may be hard to believe, but 2025 will be here in just a few short months. So, if you haven’t already, schedule your second dental checkup and cleaning of the year! This ensures that plaque and tartar don’t have a chance to accumulate and that any existing oral health problems are treated before they get worse.
About the Practice
With over 40 years of experience, Dr. Parsons has helped patients with painful toothaches, knocked-out teeth, and just about everything in between. So, if you are dealing with abnormal symptoms or a dental injury, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us via our website or by phone at (620) 221-0730. In addition to offering morning, lunchtime, and afternoon hours throughout the week, we offer after-hours visits for current patients so they get the care they need right away.