Little children trick or treating on HalloweenWhether you are aware of it or not, there is a lot that goes into your smile’s care. After all, nearly everything can negatively influence your health, including teeth-grinding, tooth decay, gum infection, and more. This is even more true as we approach the holiday season, as this time of year tends to be filled with lots of sugar candies and treats. In today’s blog, your Cedar Rapids, IA dentist would like to discuss the dental dangers that accompany excessive candy intake this Halloween, as well as what steps you can take to ensure proper oral health.

Beware of Excess Sugars

As we mentioned earlier, nearly everything is harmful to your smile. What’s more? Too much of anything is bad, and this concept is not exclusive of things such as sugars and treats. As such, our team recommends moderation and proper care. But just what is so bad about candy and your teeth? Actually, a lot!

Growing up, you might have heard the phrase that candy will rot your teeth. While it may have seemed like a gross exaggeration our parents told us so that we did not consume large quantities of sugar, there is actually much truth to this statement. You see, oral bacteria may lurk in the recesses of the mouth, where they feed off of the particles from foods and beverages we consume.

When these bacteria feed on certain substances, for example, sugar, it causes them to produce a destructive acid that actively eats away at the protective enamel surrounding your teeth in a process known as tooth decay. Without proper care, this will result in cavities that become bigger and bigger until an entire tooth is consumed. So, in other words, too much candy really can rot your teeth! To learn more about this process, give us a call today.

Frightening Effects of Decay

Unlike a stomach ache or headache, decay and other oral health concerns will only get worse the longer you wait to seek treatment. In fact, the infection will spread to your roots and cause nerve damage. What’s more? Permanently losing a tooth is a possibility, and once it is gone, it will not come back. These are things to keep in mind this Halloween.

Protection You Can Seek

While treating yourself to a piece of candy or sweet treat every once in a while, is perfectly fine, it is easy to overindulge and subject your smile to harm. Further, our team recommends that as soon as you finish a piece of candy this holiday season, take care to brush your structures to remove any traces of sugar. Finally, we offer children’s treatment such as dental sealants and fluoride treatment to provide an extra boost of strength.

Learn More Today

Contact Cedar Dental in Cedar Rapids, IA by calling 319-364-7108 to learn more about the effects of too much sugar in your diet, and schedule your next appointment with our team today.