Halloween can be one of the most fun times of the year, but it can also be one of the most dangerous times for your teeth. It’s important to protect teeth on Halloween, as too much candy can lead to toothaches, cavities, and long-term tooth erosion.

Fortunately, we’re experts on making sure your teeth don’t go ghost! Read on for five tips to have a healthy Halloween.

Drink Lots of Water

Before going out on Halloween, make sure to fill up a water bottle. This will keep the sugar off of your teeth.

After eating candy, wash out your mouth by drinking a couple gulps of water. Leaving sugar on your teeth will damage them. Additionally, if drinking alcoholic beverages, such as darker rums or red wine, you’ll want to rinse off your teeth between drinks to ensure you avoid any long-term stains. If you take a bottle of water, find one with fluoride in it. Fluoride is an ingredient in toothpaste that cleans your teeth, and some brands of water have it as well.

Avoid Hard, Sticky Candies

Whether you go all out for Halloween or just stay in, most people agree this holiday provides the perfect excuse for chowing down on chocolate and candy. Most people can also agree that sugar binges aren’t great for anyone’s teeth — or waistlines. Make sure to avoid sticky candies when you take kids trick or treating. Their mouth’s saliva will not be able to get it off with ease.

Here are three candies to avoid at all costs:

• Lollipops: Lollipops and smaller hard candies stay in your mouth longer than other sweets, which gives bacteria a steady supply of sugar. Believe it or not, it’s better to eat candies quickly — the quantity doesn’t matter — than to suck on one hard candy for a long time. If you can’t resist having one, try to eat it quickly.
• Sour Candy: Sour gummies, powders, and hard candies may taste delicious, but they’re terrible for your teeth. Why is that, you wonder? They’re acidic, and tooth enamel is sensitive to acid. Eating sour candy softens the protective layer on your teeth, making them more susceptible to cavities. If you find yourself eating sour candy despite your best efforts to avoid them, make sure to rinse your mouth with water immediately afterward. You should also wait at least one hour before brushing your teeth so you don’t accidentally brush away small pieces of enamel.
• Sticky Candy: We saved the worst for last! Sticky candy is terrible for your teeth because it just doesn’t want to leave your mouth. If you don’t brush right away, the residue can stay on your teeth for hours. Even after brushing, trace amounts may remain in tooth crevices. Bacteria will enjoy the feast, but you probably won’t enjoy the cavities.

Floss!

Only 30 percent of the population takes the time to floss each day. If you’re part of the 70 percent, you need to change to protect your teeth on Halloween. Flossing is the best way to get rid of any leftover sugar in your teeth and gums. Brushing will not be able to clean your teeth as much as they should.

Visit a Dentist

The best step you can take to clean teeth after Halloween is to schedule a cleaning after the Holiday. This way you can be sure to get all the bacteria off your teeth. This will also ensure that the candy didn’t damage your teeth. Sometimes you won’t be able to see this damage.

Go Have a Healthy Halloween

Now that you have some dental tips, you should be ready to have a healthy Halloween. You can be sure to keep your smile after this fall.

Did you like this article? Check out more on our blog. And if you’re looking for a dentist, please don’t hesitate to contact us.