HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Our team was all smiles as we dressed up and painted pumpkins. Reply back with your vote of your favorite pumpkin!
This time of year can be so fun for families. To ensure your smile is Spooktacular, we have put together "Healthy Halloween Hacks". Start with the Candy Quiz, and by the end of our Healthy Hacks article, let's see if you answer the Candy Quiz correctly! There may be more than one correct answer. Scroll to the bottom for the answer(s).
CANDY QUIZ:
Guess which 2 are less "scary" for your teeth?
1. Chocolate
2. Sour Gummies
3. Lollipops
4. Caramels
5. Bubble Gum
(Scroll to the bottom for the answer to our Candy Quiz)
HEALTHY HALLOWEEN HACKS (Scroll to the bottom for the answer to our Candy Quiz)
1. Limit candy intake to certain times to help reduce decay.
Loads of sweets can be a tempting snack for kids (and adults). But depriving kids of their hard-earned trick-or-treat sweets will likely make them crave their candy more. Instead of eliminating all candy, limit candy to directly after mealtime. The boosted amounts of saliva created for eating their meal will help cancel out some of the dental plaque bacteria acid often associated with sugar.
2. Not all candy is equally scary.
When trying to decide which candies are more or less harmful, think about the amount of time it will take to eat. For example, chocolate dissolves quickly, whereas sticky and hard candies take a while to eat. Additionally, chewy and hard candies can get stuck in your teeth, potentially causing more harm.
3. Sugar-free gum can be a great option.
Gum with the ADA seal gets two thumbs up. Chewing yummy sugar-free gum after eating helps to boost saliva and wash out food. Sound like a win-win to us!
4. Omit drinking sugary beverages.
Opt for water to drink, rather than sweet soft-drinks which give your teeth a bath in sugar. Water not only is healthier for your body, it keeps your mouth cleaner, too.
5. Remember to BRUSH and FLOSS.
"Sugar bugs" aren't as scary of a threat if you quickly defeat them with fluoridated toothpaste, mouthwash, and flossing. Allow the Halloween festivities to be fun by taking a moment to clean your teeth. And most importantly, remember to SMILE!
+ Some Additional Health Tips:
Eating a balanced diet is important for optimal health, and for maintaining vitamins that help to strengthen your teeth. “Sugar Bugs” cause nasty cavities, so eliminate sugar whenever possible. Instead, opt for fresh fruits and veggies, milk and cheeses, lean meats, and whole grains. For healthy kid-friendly recipes and food ideas, click here.
CANDY QUIZ ANSWER: Chocolate and bubble gum are more gentle (less scary) for your smile than sticky sweets, sour candies, or lollipops.
To ensure all your children’s teeth are ready to SMILE all year long, be sure to visit Sunshine Children’s Dentistry. The American Dental Association recommends oral checkups twice annually for children (and adults, too). QUESTIONS? We are a resource to you and are happy to answer any questions you may have about your child’s changing smile. We believe that oral health should be FUN and something to SMILE about!
We at Sunshine Children's Dentistry are THANKFUL for our patients!
Your family is a blessing to everyone at our office. Thank you for the honor of serving you! If you ever need to reach us, our number is 910.762.7736.
For more helpful resources and fun activities, be sure to read our other Blog Articles.
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