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Approximately 4-million kids will go trick-or-treating in Canada this Halloween, and they’ll come back with dozens of types of candy. While this candy is loaded with sugar, most kids make it through the holiday without causing too much damage to their smile. However, there are a few things kids do that exacerbate the damage done to their teeth. This year, we hope you’ll avoid these Halloween dental fails and keep cavities away from your smile.
Dental Fail 1: Not Brushing at the End of the Day
Many of the candies you eat will leave a trail of sugar and residue on your teeth. Even if you don’t see it, this leftover sugar and acid create an environment that’s ripe for cavities to develop. While brushing twice per day is recommended every day of your life, it’s especially important after indulging in candy on Halloween. If you don’t, then this leftover sugar and acid have a full day to eat away at your teeth, greatly boosting the chance of cavities or gum disease.
Dental Fail 2: Eating Nothing But Candy All Day Long
Let’s face it: Most kids are thinking about candy from the moment they know it’s Halloween. But just because it’s Halloween doesn’t give kids a license to eat nothing but candy the entire day.
Not only is this terrible for their teeth, but it also leaves them with very few nutrients or vitamins to energize their minds and bodies. Instead, ensure that healthy snacks and complete meals are also eaten on Halloween – your kids will appreciate when they feel energetic enough for trick-or-treating later that night.
Dental Fail 3: Drinking Sugary Beverages in Addition to Candy
While sodas and juices used to be standard beverages for kids, almost all dentists and doctors recommend avoiding them in 2017. That’s because even juices that seem directly squeezed from fruit are typically loaded with cavity-causing sugar.
As you might imagine, these sugary beverages are even more damaging to your teeth on Halloween, when kids are likely to eat hundreds of calories in candy. It is important to drink on Halloween, but choosing water will leave your smile clean and will keep you hydrated for the day’s events.
Keep Your Smile White and Healthy this Halloween!
By avoiding those three dental fails, your smile should come out of the Halloween holiday as healthy as ever. In the event that you experience sensitivity or pain, our Waterloo dental team can ensure that you have no cavities or other problems. Contact us today to see what we can do for your smile!