Worried about what Halloween candy will do to your teeth? Or are you worried it will make problems worse? Call us TODAY to make an appointment for a dental exam: 248-972-8720. Dr. Newingham is both experienced and trained in helping prevent dental problems.
Candy Can Cause Cavities And Gum Disease
The problem with Halloween candy is obviously sugar, but why? Because sugar allows harmful bacteria to grow and thrive. This can cause problems like:
- Gum disease
- Bad breath
- Tooth infections
- Tooth decay
That’s why regular exams and cleanings are so important. You cannot avoid all sugar, so you need to keep your smile professionally clean. You also need exams by dentists with experience and training like Dr. Newingham.
How To Avoid Scary Problems This Halloween
Eat a good meal before you leave for trick-or-treating.
Heading out to get free candy on an empty stomach is a bad idea. You’ll just end up eating way too much candy. Help strengthen your willpower by eating a good meal before you leave. You’ll end up with less sugar in your mouth this way.
Call our Birmingham, MI dental office today to schedule your next dental cleaning and dental exam. Our team as the experience necessary to get your teeth and gums truly clean. That means fewer problems.
Rinse your mouth out with water after eating candy.
It’s impractical to expect you to brush and floss after each piece of Halloween candy you buy. If you have to eat candy, rinse your mouth out with water. This helps wash away some of the sugar stuck to your teeth and gums.
Then call us for your next appointment. Regular visits with a highly trained dentist like Dr. Newingham can either prevent problems from happening or keep them small and easily corrected.
Throw out any hard or sticky candy you get trick-or-treating.
Not all Halloween candy is equally bad for your teeth. Sticky candy (toffee, caramel, gummies) is the worst because you get sugar stuck all over your mouth. Hard candy is a close second because it rubs sugar into your teeth as you suck on it.
By calling us today at 248-972-8720, you can schedule a post-Halloween appointment for dental cleanings and dental exams. Our skilled hygienists will get your teeth professionally clean. Then Dr. Newingham will give you a thorough exam. Spotting any problems early is the key to making sure dental treatments work to correct them.
Don’t pretend your teeth are an extra set of hands.
It’s tempting to use your teeth to open candy wrappers or hold onto something so you have both hands free. However, that’s an easy way to damage your teeth. One slip and your teeth can jar together hard enough to chip.
Dr. Newingham is experienced enough to know the value of prevention. That’s why you need to call us for a dental exam and dental cleaning. These both help prevent cavities, gum disease, and more.
Chew sugarless gum that has xylitol in it.
Regular gum is some of the worst candy you can enjoy this Halloween. Sugarless gum is much better. In fact, many contain a sweetener called xylitol. Although it’s a sugar alcohol, it won’t feed bacteria. In fact, it fights the bacteria behind cavities and gum disease.
You know that’s not enough, though. Call our Birmingham, MI dental office today for your next appointment. Our whole dental team is dedicated to helping our patients have healthy, clean smiles. You can get your teeth professionally clean to help get rid of plaque and tartar that can build up after all that Halloween candy.
Eat some of your candy, then hide the rest in the freezer.
You obviously cannot eat all the candy you get at Halloween. But it’s a mistake to go too far in the other direction. Not having any candy can make you crave it any more at a sugary holiday like Halloween. Enjoy some candy, then put it somewhere you won’t see it.
And then call Newingham Dental Center for dental cleanings and dental exams. Sugar is bad for your teeth, so you need to make sure Halloween candy didn’t cause major problems for your smile.
Call us TODAY at 248-972-8720 to schedule an appointment for anyone in your family. Dr. Newingham can work with children as young as one year old, but all are welcome.