Avoiding Ghoulish Tooth Decay

Don't get tricked!  Avoid cavities on Halloween and every day!

The team at Forest Lane Dental of Dallas wishes you a Happy Halloween and safe trick-or-treating tonight!  When it comes to taking care of your teeth and cavity prevention, Halloween candy is not the only culprit that can damage teeth and cause cavities.  Read on for tips on preventing tooth decay on Halloween and every day.

• Choose a healthy diet.  Everyone knows that eating healthy foods is best for your dental health and overall health.  Did you know that snacking on crunchy veggies is good for your teeth?  In addition to a healthy diet, finishing a meal with a fresh vegetable such as carrot sticks, fresh celery or even a crunchy apple helps remove sticky residue on teeth and stimulate gums and saliva production, reducing food particles that can be left behind on teeth.

•  Brush and Floss.  Our busy lifestyles sometimes prevent us from making time to take care of brushing after meals.  If you cannot brush after eating, you can rinse your mouth well with warm water to help remove food particles that can become trapped between teeth and on tooth surfaces.  Make sure you floss every day to clean the 35% of tooth surfaces that cannot be cleaned with a toothbrush alone.

•  Avoid foods which are high in sugars and carbohydrates.  You might know that sugary foods cause cavities, but did you know that carbohydrates can be culprits, too?  When carbohydrates break down, they produce sugars, which are food for the destructive bacteria that cause tooth decay.  Keeping carbs in the middle of your meal, and in moderation will help prevent cavities from forming.  

• Avoid Acids.  Tooth enamel is the strongest substance in the human body, but it is still susceptible to acid erosion.  A diet high in acidic foods can damage tooth enamel over time.  Avoid behaviors such as sucking on lemons.  Brush or rinse well after consuming acidic foods.

• See Your Dentist.  A professional dental cleaning and check-up every 6 months is an important step in cavity prevention.  Brushing and flossing are great for daily care, but tartar (hardened plaque) cannot be removed with brushing and floss alone.  A professional cleaning will remove tartar and the cavity causing bacteria along with it.  When you see your dentist every 6 months, you will notice healthier teeth and gums. 

For more information on cavity prevention, or to schedule your dental check-up at Forest Lane Dental, contact Dr. Jack E. Burroughs today.