Get ready! Your home is about to be awash in yummy Halloween candy! Now is that time to make a plan about how you will deal with this influx of sugar—there are steps that you can take to protect your smile! Keep reading to get some information and tips from our Troy dentists.
As you probably already know, when you indulge in sugary treats, the oral bacteria in your mouth go into a feeding frenzy—bacteria use the energy from sugar to grow and multiply. That is why dental patients who consume a lot of sugars and refined carbohydrates have higher rates of gum disease and dental cavities.
Obviously, the best way to protect your smile is to avoid these unhealthy foods and drinks as much as possible. With that in mind, you may consider donating some of the Halloween candy that you collect, so that it doesn’t all end up in your pantry.
When you do treat yourself to some sugary treats, you want to make sure that you are:
1. drinking plenty of water, so that your body is able to produce plenty of saliva. Saliva neutralizes bacteria and helps your dental enamel to re-mineralize. Chronic dry mouth will put you at risk of suffering from all kinds of oral infections.
2. consuming these foods and drinks in time-limited sittings (rather than, for example, snacking or sipping throughout the day). Keep in mind that oral bacteria stay active and feeding for about 20 to 30 minutes after you last consumed something—the goal is to limit the amount of time that harmful bacteria can proliferate.
And, keep in mind that you can also schedule a professional cleaning for November to give your smile a refresh, if needed!
Contact our Troy dentists to get more information about protecting your smile from damage, and to schedule a personal consultation.