Tooth Decay, Gingivitis & Enamel Loss – How To Stop Your Mouth Becoming A Horror Story This Halloween!
Find out how to stop your gums and teeth suffering as a result of the exciting and indulgent holiday of Halloween.
This time of year is the perfect time to enjoy all the spooky things like goblins, ghouls and witches, pumpkins, monsters and werewolves. It’s a fun time to enjoy all kinds of scary, festive celebrations.
It can also be a really risky time of year for your teeth because there are so many sweeties, desserts, buffets and drinks on offer. Just think of how many naughty treats you enjoy over a weekend with a Halloween party and trick or treating outing with the kids, not to mention that visit to the pumpkin patch and the cafe afterwards, and those toffee apples from Tik Tok you all made….
Phew, it really is easy to see how we all can overindulge for Halloween and put our oral health at risk.
The good news is that there are many ways to curb your enthusiasm and keep your teeth and gums healthier over this exciting holiday. Here’s how to stop your mouth become a real horror story this Halloween:
Know Your Limits
It might seem tempting to bite into a toffee apple, to chew on some toffee or bite into a nutty chocolate bar with no regard. However, if you have dental restorations, braces, weak teeth, false teeth or anything else that could cause your teeth to be damaged by these kinds of treats, avoid them. Toffees especially are very bad for the teeth and gums because they stick to the teeth and feed sugar into the mouth for a longer period of time than something that gets flushed away with saliva right away.
Brush Regularly
During a season of parties and exciting occasions that are outside of your usual routine, it can be easy to push your teeth brushing regime to the back of your mind. Maybe you brush for less time, less effectively or less often. Either way, those essential brushes are being missed and that can cause bacteria to build up putting you at risk of enamel damage, gingivitis and tooth decay. Try to stick to brushing twice a day for two minutes each time, and flossing at least once a day.
If you need help and advice when it comes to your oral health regime, why not make an appointment with our Abbey Road Dental hygienist? They can help you learn how to take care of your teeth effectively, professionally clean your teeth and provide further oral hygiene support.
Drink Lots Of Water
Drinking water is important because we, as humans, are made up of lots of water in our bodies. It is also really helpful during Halloween because it helps to flush away all the sugar and starch you consume throughout. It also helps boost your saliva levels, which is also important for washing away nasties and keeping the bacterial balance in your mouth.
Try Healthier Ways To Enjoy Halloween
Whilst the treats of Halloween are great, there are healthy but seasonal snacks and drinks, as well as activities to enjoy as a family to curb the vast amount of unhealthy food you may be consuming.
Here are some ideas for a healthier Halloween:
- Themed smoothies like a green smoothie made of blended zombie, or a red smoothie made from blood (not really but you know what we mean!)
- Halloween picture competition
- Halloween movie fest with healthy homemade pizza
- Pumpkin picking at a pumpkin patch
- Roasting pumpkin seeds as healthy, savoury snacks
- Baby pumpkin finding competition
- Halloween fancy dress competition
- Supervised apple bobbing
- Creepy crawlies hunt
- UV nighttime rockpool
Try To Limit The Sweeties After Halloween
Many children are allowed a blowout on Halloween, eating sweets they have acquired on the day. After Halloween, though, it is a good idea to try to limit those sweets to mealtimes only. This will help to keep the acid and sugar attacks to a certain time period only, which limits the damage that can be done.
Be Mindful At The Buffet
It might be easy to think only one Halloween buffet is going to be happening, so you can eat what you want as a treat. But what about all the other Halloween treats? Or Christmas buffets? Or NYE parties? It is never just the one occasion, which is why it is important to curb your enthusiasm. Try switching the bread roll for some salad, or switch a sausage roll for some crudettes. Drink one water between soft drinks or alcoholic drinks, and try to skip dessert. It may seem like a small set of changes to make, but for your oral health, every little counts.
Avoid Risky Party Games
You might be surprised to know that a lot of dental damage occurs during the winter season. We may not all be out on holidays or playing sports, but there can be a lot of risks taken during the winter months – including Halloween and Christmas. Many people lose their inhibitions through drinking and celebrating and take unnecessary risks through party games and other activities. If you can, try to avoid taking these risks as they can cause damage to your teeth and gums that are very painful and can be costly to fix.
Attend Your Checkups
You might be tempted to ignore tooth sensitivity, gum disease symptoms or other issues because you are so busy over Halloween and the winter months. You might be especially less likely to attend your Abbey Road Dental appointment if your teeth and gums seem fine.
The problem with missing your NW8 dental appointments is that any issues with your teeth and gums that are present will only get worse without diagnosis and treatment. This can result in a much more complex dental journey once you do get to a checkup with us. The sooner we can check your teeth, gums and oral tissues, the sooner any problems can be diagnosed and treated effectively.
Keep Your Smile Happy And Healthy During Spooky Season!
Hopefully our tips above have inspired you to keep your teeth and gums as healthy as possible during this indulgent and fun season. If you do have any questions or enquiries about St John’s Wood hygienist services, or booking a checkup with us, please call our Abbey Road Dental team on 020 7624 1603 who will be more than happy to help you!