Protecting Your Family’s Teeth This Halloween

We’re just days away from Halloween, so your friends at Excel Dental are here to offer some tips to keep all your favorite little goblins safe from tooth decay, cavities, and dental injuries while you’re out trick-or-treating!

Tips To Keep Your Family’s Teeth Safe This Halloween

Here are some helpful suggestions from your Ozark dentist for protecting your family’s teeth this Halloween:

Prevent Dental Emergencies

Halloween is so much fun for families, but it’s not without risks to your oral health.

That’s not just because of all the candy, but also because of the dental hazards that await the kids during a night of trick-or-treating.

If your kids are wearing costumes that are too big, bulky, or long, or if they wear masks that hinder their vision, there’s always the chance they could trip and fall. Even aside from costumes and accessories, without proper lighting, they could get too caught up in the excitement and take off, tripping on a curb, sidewalk, or porch step.

Any of those little mishaps could result in a dental injury, and instead of heading to the next house for more candy, you’ll be headed to your Ozark dentist for emergency treatment!

Just be sure everyone’s costumes fit properly and comfortably, and that you take along a flashlight so they can walk safely from house to house.

Be Mindful Of The Candy You Eat

Even though all candy is loaded with sugar, some sweet treats are worse for your teeth than others. So it helps to be picky!

It’s not necessarily the amount of sugar you consume that’s so threatening to your teeth, but the amount of time your teeth are exposed to sugar that has the biggest impact.

That means candy that is chewy and sticky, like caramel, toffee, or taffy, is harder to get washed away by your saliva and, as a result, will hang around inside your mouth longer. This gives bacteria more time to feast away on the sugary particles left behind.

Suckers and jawbreakers, which take much longer to eat, will have a similar effect.

Keep that in mind when sifting through the candy this Halloween, and always try to practice moderation when enjoying it, regardless!

Keep The Candy Hidden

We suggest moderation as if it’s the easiest thing in the world, right?

It’s a struggle, to be sure, because who doesn’t have a sweet tooth?

But you can do yourself and the kids a favor by making it easier for everyone to avoid the temptation of overindulgence.

Instead of leaving the candy in a big bowl on the kitchen counter for the next couple of weeks, try keeping the candy hidden and out of reach of the kids. If it’s not out in the open, taunting you every time you pass through the kitchen with all its sugary goodness, you’re less likely to eat too much of it.

Get it out as an after-dinner treat only instead of letting everyone snack on it throughout the day!

Take Advantage Of Our Cavity Prevention

Each time you visit us for a dental cleaning and exam, be sure to ask about our strategies for tooth decay and cavity prevention!

We offer easy solutions for keeping your family’s risk for cavities low, like fluoride treatments and dental sealants.

It’s like giving your teeth a layer of protection that not only seals out harmful bacteria, but also remineralizes your enamel, strengthening and repairing microscopic damage on your teeth where bacteria could otherwise break through more easily.

With these simple measures, your family’s teeth are made safer, stronger, and healthier!

Check In With Us Soon!

Check in with your Ozark dentist to keep your family’s teeth and gums clean and healthy. When you bring the kids to us for their next dental cleanings and exams, we’ll make sure everyone’s oral health is on the right track, despite the sugary surge in your family’s Halloween-time diet!

To schedule an appointment for your family, call Excel Dental today at (417) 233-4280 or fill out our online form.

Excel Dental

Dr. Nick Matthews and Dr. Tracy Davis

The careers of Dr. Nick Matthews and Dr. Tracy Davis have followed similar paths, and they are excited to offer exceptional smile care to residents of southwest Missouri! Dr. Matthews grew up in southwest Missouri and graduated from Republic High School. Dr. Davis’ hometown is Conway, though she moved to the Springfield area in 2004 to be closer to family. Graduates of the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry, they both have earned many accolades. For example, Dr. Matthews is a Fellow of the International Dental Implant Association, and Dr. Davis has received national recognition as a dental researcher. Drs. Davis and Matthews love to help our patients smile with more confidence and providing you top-notch, comprehensive dental care in a warm environment.