Happy Healthy Halloween! Smart Ways To Combine Dental Health With Halloween

Oct 25th, 2022
Easton Dentists Nov 17th, 2022

halloween candy can cause tooth decay

Halloween is nearly upon us, and this means a fun time for the kids. They will eat lots of candy and probably stockpile sweets for the winter. This is perfectly normal behavior for kids. The only problem is that sweets and candy may not translate to healthy teeth and a bright smile. Now we cannot ban candy during the Halloween season because we want to enforce strict standards of dental hygiene. However, we can give the kids tips on dental care so that candy will not lead to cavities. Below are some smart ways to ensure that our kids maintain a Healthy Halloween.

Communicate with the kids

Children are not magicians so they cannot know what they have not been taught. Parents should explain the connection between sweets and cavities to the kids. Just teach the kids to brush their teeth immediately after eating candies and they will get the message.

Limit the sweets

After trick or treat night, limit how much candy your children consume for the night. Why?

  1. Sugary Snacks – Halloween favorites like candy corn contain a huge amount of sugar which leads to tooth decay.
  2. Chewy Sweets – Gummy candies are delicious but the remains get stuck in teeth and are a serious source of tooth decay.
  3. Sticky Sweets – Dried fruits may seem like a healthy choice to hand out for Halloween but as with chewy sweets, these fruits stick to your teeth and make it very hard for saliva to wash remains away.  Fresh fruits are the way to go if you’re going with the alternative route.
  4. Sour Candy – This may come as a little surprise to you, however, sour candy contains acid which erodes tooth enamel and helps foster tooth decay.

Show them a video or invite your dentist over

A picture is worth a thousand words and a movie is more effective than a lecture. Show the kids an interesting movie on proper dental care because this will make the right impression on them. In fact, this is a smart move because it will make Halloween a wonderful experience for the kids.

This is the perfect time to invite your family dentist to give an informal lecture to the kids. Make this a part of the Halloween festivities and it will have the right impact. Your family dentist or his representative should lecture the kids on proper dental hygiene, effective brushing techniques, and flossing the teeth. For best results, the dental expert should join the kids in eating candy.

Healthy dental habits will keep kids’ teeth in great shape for years to come and will make dentist trips quick and painless.

This Halloween, remember that moderation is key.  Enjoy those sweets but make sure you’re taking good care of your teeth all year.  Schedule your cleaning appointment with Easton Dentist today and we’ll make sure you stay on track. The Dental Center is here for regular checkups and any emergencies that may arise. Contact Easton Dental today to schedule an appointment for everyone in the family.

Halloween Candy – The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Oct 1st, 2021
Easton Dentists Nov 3rd, 2021

We understand, it’s Halloween, and you are surrounded by candy.  You want to eat all the candy.   But let’s try to keep our health and smiles in mind when we go digging into those pumpkin baskets for the sugar and the chocolate.  To have your cake and eat it too, it’s best to pace yourself and skip over some of the worst options.

THE GOOD

  1. Dark Chocolate – Chocolate does contain a lot of sugar but many studies show that the antioxidants in dark chocolate are actually good for the heart and may lower blood pressure.  As long as you’re eating it in moderation.

  1. Sugar-free Lollipops and hard candies – These yummy snacks actually stimulate saliva which prevents dry mouth.  Dry mouth allows plaque to build up which can lead to an increased risk of cavities.

  1. Sugar-free gum – In addition to increasing saliva, gum can dislodge food particles from teeth which can help prevent cavities.

THE BAD

  1. Sugary Snacks – Halloween favorites like candy corn contain a huge amount of sugar which leads to tooth decay.

  1. Chewy Sweets – Gummy candies are delicious but the remains gets stuck in your teeth and are a serious source of tooth decay.

  1. Sticky Sweets – Dried fruits may seem like a healthy choice to hand out for Halloween but as with chewy sweets, these fruits stick to your teeth and make it very hard for saliva to wash remains away.  Fresh fruits are the way to go if you’re going with the alternative route.

THE UGLY

  1. Sour Candies – Did you guess this one?  Sour candies tend to be on the most overlooked candies on the danger list.  These candies have high levels of acid which can break down tooth enamel very quickly.  That immediate response your mouth has to produce a lot of saliva is a good thing – saliva restores the natural balance of acid in your mouth.

This Halloween, remember that moderation is key.  Enjoy those sweets but make sure you’re taking good care of your teeth all year.  Schedule your cleaning appointment with Easton Dentist in Columbus today and we’ll make sure you stay on track.

Kiss in the New Year With Sweet Breath

Dec 31st, 2019
Easton Dentists Jan 2nd, 2020

3-2-1…Happy New Year! Most people enjoy ringing in the new year with a kiss from someone special, but the number one deal-breaker when it comes to kissing is bad breath. Unfortunately, some people with bad breath aren’t even aware there’s a problem. Dr Brad Gilmer in Columbus Ohio can help you determine if your breath problems are caused by an oral problem and then develop a treatment plan to help eliminate it.

Pay attention to what you order for dinner. Certain foods, such as garlic and onions, contribute to bad breath. Brushing, flossing and mouthwash will only mask the odor temporarily. Odors continue until the body eliminates the food. Dieters may develop unpleasant breath from infrequent eating.

If you don’t brush and floss daily, particles of food remain in the mouth, collecting bacteria, which can cause bad breath. Food that collects between the teeth, on the tongue and around the gums can rot, leaving an unpleasant odor.

Bad breath can also be caused by dry mouth (xerostomia), which occurs when the flow of saliva decreases. Dry mouth may be caused by various medications, salivary gland problems or continuously breathing through the mouth.

Tobacco products cause bad breath. If you use tobacco, ask your dentist for tips on kicking the habit.

Bad breath may be the sign of a medical disorder, such as a local infection in the respiratory tract, chronic sinusitis, postnasal drip, chronic bronchitis, diabetes, gastrointestinal disturbance, liver or kidney ailment.

Maintaining good oral health is essential to reducing bad breath. Schedule regular dental visits for a professional cleaning and checkup. If you think you have constant bad breath, keep a log of the foods you eat and make a list of medications you take.

Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste to remove food debris and plaque. Brush your tongue, too. Once a day, use floss or an interdental cleaner to clean between teeth.

Dr. Gilmer & staff wish you a happy new year and great dental health throughout 2020!

Foods That Cause Tooth Decay

Apr 11th, 2018
Easton Dentists Apr 11th, 2018

When it comes to tooth decay, it’s important to know the main culprit – acid. Acid is what eats away at our enamel and causes cavities.

Acid can enter our mouths in one of two ways: either directly through what we eat (citrus fruits, for example), or as a byproduct when oral bacteria consume the sugars that we eat.

Ultimately, a simple way to identify foods that cause tooth decay is to ask whether it’s acidic or sweet/starchy.

Acidic foods include things like citrus fruits, tomatoes, vinegar, kombucha and sour candy.

Sweet/starchy foods include things like candy, soda or sugar-sweetened beverages, fruit, bread,cereal, pasta and crackers.

The longer these things interact with your teeth, the greater the chance for tooth decay to occur. For example, sipping on soda throughout the day, or chewing a gooey caramel treat, increases the amount of sugar that coat your teeth. Bacteria love to feast on this sugar, creating an acidic environment and putting your teeth at risk for decay.

To help protect your teeth against tooth decay:
– Reduce your consumption of sweets and refined starches
– Enjoy acidic foods in moderation or as part of a meal
– Decrease or eliminate your consumption of soda or sugar-sweetened beverages
– Swish with water after meals and snacks
– Maintain good oral hygiene to brush away plaque buildup (floss at least once a day and brush twice a day)

And, as always, make sure to visit us regularly so we can remove tartar buildup and assess for early signs of decay!

Make an APPOINTMENT today!