Visit the Dentist and Keep Your Kids Teeth Cavity Free This Halloween

As Halloween approaches, it is a great time to visit the dentist and have your kid's teeth cleaned.  We recommend that you have their teeth cleaned and examined twice a year so that we can remove any bacteria and plaque that has built up over time.  No matter how hard you try to keep your kids teeth clean, there are spaces that are simply too hard to reach with brushing and flossing alone.  This is why a professional teeth cleaning is so important. By having their teeth cleaned this fall, we can help to prevent cavities and gum disease.  If a cavity has developed, we can treat it right away so that the infection doesn't spread, and their tooth doesn't start to hurt.  Preventing pain is far better than waiting for it to develop before getting treatment. 

This Halloween, visit the dentist and go into the holiday season with a mouth full of healthy teeth.  You can help your kids’ teeth to stay that way by encouraging them to skip the massive sugar overload that comes with Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.  One way to do so is to skip trick-or-treating this year.  Instead, you could throw a costume party for them and all of their friends.  Incorporate fun games and healthy treats instead of bags full of sugar.  If they don’t want to skip the annual tradition, you can still go out but have them trade in their candy for a new toy or another reward.  This will teach them that treats come in multiple forms, not just candy. 

Here are additional ways you can make trick-or-treating healthier, even with the candy.

• Eat before you go.  Feed your kids a dinner that is full of healthy food like lean protein, veggies, complex carbs, and dairy products.  This will help to keep their teeth and body healthy while giving them plenty of energy.  It will also fill them up so that they will be less likely to get hungry and dive into the candy bag for nourishment. 
• Carry snacks.  You should also carry healthy snacks like a piece of cheese or apples so that if your kids do get hungry, they can eat something that is good for them. 
• Drink more water.  Staying hydrated is important for your kids’ health and drinking water can also help your teeth to stay healthy. If they eat a piece of candy, drinking water can wash away some of the sugar that has been deposited onto their teeth. 
• Carry mouthwash.  You can bring a travel size antiseptic mouthwash like Listerine.  Ask your kids to rinse their mouth after eating a sugary treat so that the bacteria are killed.  This is a good idea every day and not just on Halloween. 

As a dentist, we recommend that you limit how much sugar you allow your kids to eat.  Many parents make the holidays a free for all in the treats department.  This is bad for your kids’ oral health and will make it hard for them to limit themselves as they grow.  It is better to start these healthy habits while they are young. 

Tips for Avoiding Sensitive Teeth From Our Local Dental Office

We help to prevent sensitive teeth in our local dental office.  Many of our patients complain of sensitive teeth, and we work with them to take precautionary steps to ensure that they do not experience tooth pain, which is common as people age.  Teeth can become sensitive due to a cavity, gum disease or other infection along with the enamel wearing away.  This process is called demineralization and can happen due to the food that you eat, how hard you brush your teeth, and age. 

There are steps you can take to keep your teeth healthy and strong.  Some of which are so easy that you can do them at home. 

• Stop smoking. People that smoke and use chewing tobacco put themselves at risk for oral cancer, and their gums and teeth can naturally become more sensitive.  If you can kick the habit – do so.  Your teeth and gums will start to feel better, and you may be saving yourself from a future medical problem. 
• Don’t drink excessively.  When people drink excessive amounts of alcohol, it becomes difficult for the body to heal itself.  If you have an infection in your mouth, drinking too much can make the infection spread or last longer than it needs to. We can remove bacteria and infections in our dental office, but it is better to avoid them in the first place by allowing your body to stay healthy. 
• Change your diet.  Improving your diet is a good way to strengthen your teeth.  Stop eating and drinking sugary items and instead, focus on healthy foods like nuts, dairy products, green leafy veggies, and crunchy fruits and veggies.  You should also drink milk and water instead of soda.  The more acidic or sugary the food is, the more likely it will be to irritate or your teeth or lead to an oral infection. 
• Use fluoride.  Your teeth are covered with enamel, a hard mineral.  If the enamel starts to wear away, you can strengthen your teeth using fluoride toothpaste.  This mineral will be deposited onto your teeth every time that you brush and if you need your teeth to be strengthened even further, we can do so with an in-office fluoride treatment. 
• Buy a soft toothbrush.  If you are using a hard toothbrush, there is a good chance that you are causing the enamel on your teeth to wear away.  Switch this out for a soft toothbrush and apply gentle pressure when brushing.  You can also use a battery operated toothbrush for a good clean. 

In our dental office, we can also seal your teeth to cover the dentin and ensure that the nerve endings inside of it are not exposed.  If you need further protection, we can perform a bonding procedure where a tooth colored substance is placed on top of your teeth.  Those that are damaged or cracked should have a dental crown placed around it to ensure that nothing can touch the damaged tooth and that the tooth is restored at the same time. 

These precautionary measures will help to prevent sensitive teeth, and if they develop, we can provide the necessary treatments for helping your teeth to feel better.