Avoiding The Terror Of Halloween Cavities

When you consume too much sugar, this can lead to tooth decay. Which means all of those Halloween treats you and your family enjoy could be a recipe for a cavity. However, your Columbia, TN, dentist has a few tips for enjoying Halloween without leaving teeth vulnerable to tooth decay.

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The Link Between Sugar and Tooth Decay

When we consume snacks and candy with a lot of sugar, or consume seasonal drinks, sodas, or energy drinks with high amounts of sugar, this leaves behind particles between the teeth. As harmful oral bacteria break down and consume these particles, this elevates overall oral acidity in your mouth. In addition, the teeth become coated in a sticky layer of plaque buildup, which can weaken and erode the outer enamel to make cavities possible. Fortunately, we can offer a few tips to better safeguard your smiles during Halloween and the sugar-rich holiday season to come!

Tips for Smile-Healthy Halloween

First, be sure you and your family continue to brush for two minutes in the morning and again each evening, using a fluoride toothpaste to help keep outer enamel strong. You should also floss each evening to remove what a toothbrush alone cannot reach. Try to limit yourselves to one or two pieces of candy per day, that way you don’t overindulge. Eat them just after dinner so the increased saliva production aids in removing sugar particles. A glass of water is helpful too.

Parents can also offer kids the chance to trade their excess candy in for a toy, money, or a chance to do a fun family activity. If you are handing out treats to kids in your area, consider sugar-free treats, or even Halloween-themed party favors instead.

Our Preventive Treatments

Our team can also help your smile with preventive actions! For example, when you see us for a checkup and cleaning, we can remove all plaque from the teeth, which brushing and flossing alone cannot do, to help lower the risk of cavities. For kids, we can provide fluoride treatments to keep the enamel strong, even the already-weakened portions. We could also coat the rear teeth in dental sealants, which lowers the risk of decay forming in the molars, which tend to have a higher likelihood of developing cavities since kids often have a hard time reaching them when they brush and floss.

If you have any questions about avoiding Halloween cavities this year, then contact our team today to learn more!

Learn More About Preventive Dentistry with Creekside Family Dentistry!

Our team wants to help you and your family avoid cavities. Give us a call today at Creekside Family Dentistry in Columbia, TN at (931) 388-3384 to schedule your appointment.