5 Tips to Keep Your Teeth Healthy During Halloween and Beyond

It’s a time-honored tradition: walking up to your neighbors’ houses and holding out a bucket where they can deposit Halloween candy.

That’s where the trouble starts. With so much candy sitting around the house, the temptation to constantly sneak a few treats is overwhelming. Candy just tastes so good!

As your dental team at Smile Design Manhattan in New York City, it’s our professional duty to warn you not to eat all your kids’ Halloween candy (for multiple reasons).

Here are five tips to keep your teeth healthy during Halloween and beyond.

1. Choose wisely

You shouldn’t eat all the candy, but you can definitely have some. Just make smart choices. Steer clear of the hard, sticky, chewy candy that can stick to your teeth for an extended period. That gives bacteria more time to hang around and cause decay. 

Chocolate is always a good choice — it dissolves quickly and won’t stick to your teeth.

2. Eat your candy with meals

Here’s a good trick to help you enjoy your candy: Eat it with meals rather than as a snack. The increased saliva in your mouth due to the other food helps rinse the sugar away and neutralize the acids produced by bacteria that can cause cavities.

3. Drink water

Water doesn’t just keep you hydrated. Like your saliva, it also helps rinse away the sugar and harmful acids in your mouth. It can also help wash away any remaining food particles after you eat. It’s a good practice to drink water throughout the day.

4. Practice good oral hygiene 

It’s obvious, but we have to say it: Keep up your brushing and flossing routine, especially around Halloween. Brush at least twice a day and floss at least once a day. That’s your first line of defense against the tooth decay that can set in after Halloween. 

You may even want to do some additional brushing to cancel out the effects of those extra pieces of candy.

5. Go to the dentist

You should visit the dentist twice a year for your regular checkup and cleaning. If you haven’t been for a professional cleaning in a while, after Halloween is a good time to get back in the saddle. Even regular brushing can’t get all the plaque and tartar off your teeth.

If you need to schedule a cleaning, our team at Smile Design Manhattan is ready to help. Call our Midtown office at 646-278-4579 or book your appointment online today.