How to Protect Your Smile This Halloween

Halloween is just around the corner, which means fun costumes and sugary candy. With all of these delicious treats around, many people seem to forget about their oral health. The truth is that your smile matters and overindulging in sugary foods can be extremely harmful and cause you to need dental work in the future. Continue reading to learn some tips from your dentist in Southlake on how to keep your smile from looking scary as a result of this fun holiday.

Keep Up with Your Oral Health

Whether you are gathering with close friends or helping your children get their costumes ready, you shouldn’t forget about maintaining proper oral hygiene. With such a busy time, many people allow their oral health regime to become less of a priority. If you allow food debris to build up and don’t brush it away, it will cause plaque and eventually issues like tooth decay and periodontal disease. Remember to brush your teeth twice and floss at least once every single day.

Be Smart About Beverages

Many people like to turn to apple cider, fun cocktails, and other mixed drinks that are sugary and acidic. These adult beverages can be very harmful for your teeth. If you want to have an alcoholic drink, stick to something that isn’t as harmful for your teeth, like light beer or a gin and tonic.

Avoid Certain Treats

No sugary snacks are particularly good for your smile, but some are especially bad. This includes things like toffee apples or chewy toffees. Toffee apples can cause your teeth to crack, and chewy, sticky snacks can get stuck between the teeth, pose risks for fillings, and even damage braces. If you want some Halloween sweet, chocolate is a much better option than caramel or toffee.

Eat Sweets for Limited Amount of Time

Did you know that after you have sugary and acidic foods, your enamel is especially vulnerable to damage for a limited period of time? This is because acid softens your protective tooth enamel, so bacteria has an easier time causing harm. If you are going to have some sweets, try to consume them in a short time period so your teeth aren’t vulnerable for as long.

As fun as Halloween can be, it isn’t a good time for your teeth, but by following the tips listed above, you can protect them. Your smile will thank you!

About the Author

Dr. J. Lee Pettigrew is a well experienced dentist who has been serving patients in Southlake for more than three decades. He earned his DDS from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and is a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry. He is also a member of other professional organizations including the American Dental Association and the Texas Dental Association. For more information on protecting your smile or to schedule an appointment, visit his website or call (817) 481-4888.