Halloween is such a fun time of year! Who doesn’t love spooky movies and fun costumes? But even if you’re staying in this year, Halloween still means we’re likely to consume more sugary sweets than usual. In today’s blog, your Des Moines, IA, dentist will look at what you can do to avoid the onset of cavities in kids and adults!
The Dangers of Halloween
When people of all ages consume foods and drinks high in sugar, this leaves behind particles on the surfaces of our teeth or trapped between them. These particles will be broken down by bacteria, a process that increases the level of oral acidity, and coats the teeth in a sticky layer of plaque. The buildup could weaken and erode the enamel, exposing the dentin to harmful bacteria. A cavity could form, one that will grow with time until the tooth becomes infected and the patient suffers serious discomfort. Fortunately, there are stops to help protect your smile.
Protecting Teeth from Cavities
First, limit your sugary consumption to only one or two pieces after dinner. Wash them down with a glass of water, as water helps cleanse the smile. You could also encourage your kids to exchange their candy to you for a small prize or toy. More important, you and your family all need to brush and floss. We need to brush before going to bed for about two minutes, using a toothpaste that contains fluoride, as fluoride strengthens the outer enamel. Do the same in the morning too. Before bed, we also need to floss to reach what a toothbrush alone cannot. You can also attend a visit for a cleaning every six months, so we can remove all plaque and tartar. For children, we could also offer fluoride treatments or dental sealants to help protect their smiles!
Stay Safe Out There!
If your family does trick or treat, be sure to wear a mask and maintain a good social distance of at least six feet. That goes for other group activities, like visiting a corn maze, haunted house, or outdoor fall festival. If you have any questions about keeping smile safe during the Halloween holiday, or if you would like to schedule a checkup and cleaning visit for you or a member of your family, then contact our team today. We want to help you enjoy optimal oral health!
DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT PREVENTING CAVITIES?
We want to help protect smiles of all ages form issues like tooth decay or even dental infection this Halloween. To learn more about how we treat dental cavities, then schedule a consultation with Dr. Burds by calling Gateway Dental Group in downtown Des Moines, IA, at (515) 244-9565.