Halloween: How To Get Over The Guilt

You feel guilty just thinking about Halloween because, though you truly love this holiday, you also love all of the bad-for-your-smile stuff that comes along with it. As a result, you have a hard time actually enjoying yourself since you can’t stop worrying about your oral health with every bite of candy, every nibble of gummy worm, and every brownie. We understand. The occasional day in which you throw caution to the wind can be enjoyable and, after all, you are human (even if your Halloween costume suggests otherwise!). While we may not be able to assist you in feeling any better about the calories, we can most certainly help you feel much better about how your smile will fare.

Part Of The Problem Is The Type Of Food

Before you begin to assume anything related to Halloween is going to cause you guilt, remember: It’s all about the type of food you’re eating, which is always the case as you’re protecting your oral health. So, don’t worry so much about the color of the food, whether it’s shaped like a pumpkin or a ghost, or if the package says “Halloween” on it. Instead, refocus and remember the things that are always true for protecting your oral tissues:

• Very hard foods, whether candy or otherwise, can break your teeth, so be careful
• Very sticky foods can damage dental work, so keep this in mind
• Anything that is full of sugar and can coat your teeth will promote decay and is never good for gum health
• Foods that wash away quickly (think about a small square of chocolate) are better for your smile than foods that get stuck on or between teeth or take time to break down

Part Of The Issue Is Dental Hygiene

Part of the problem with your smile on Halloween has to do with dental hygiene. If you’re consuming lots of sweet treats but you’re not drinking water or considering brushing your teeth after indulging, you’re not doing your oral health any favors. However, if you eat whatever you’d like, you drink water between bites, and you rinse then brush after enjoying the sweet delights, you have greatly minimized potential damage (and you can let your guilt go!).

You May Also Be Behind On Care

If your tooth hurts but you haven’t seen us in a while, you may feel guilty about Halloween because you’re eating cavity-causing sugar with an existing cavity in your smile! Do yourself a favor: Call us today. Schedule your checkup or filling, depending on your needs. That way, you’ve got a plan in place and can simply relax.

Let Us Help You With Your Smile This Halloween

Learn more about making it through the holidays without damaging your oral health. To learn more, schedule an appointment with your dentist by calling Allen & Neumann Family Dentistry in Pella, IA, today at (641) 628-1121.