Setting the scene to switch to a Holistic Dentist
I bet you’d be surprised by my answer to, “Dr. Bis… what do you give out for Halloween?” A common question asked around this time of year, but here’s my response.
I love Halloween! I love everything associated with it… the spookiness, carving the pumpkins, roasting and eating the pumpkin seeds, and yes… handing out candy to those who come knocking. I can almost hear the gasps at the admission that I hand out candy, but here’s how I do Halloween without compromising the dental health of my own family, or my community.
Let Them Eat Candy… Responsibly on Halloween
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- Think Teal. There is a new phenomenon hitting houses over the past few years called the Teal Pumpkin Project. Homeowners are encouraged to offer a non-food option for those who may have allergies or those who simply don’t want the candy. You will know these houses because they have a teal pumpkin decal on their home. I offer both candy and non-food treats for kids and I let them choose.
- Choose Wisely. I give out simple chocolate bars and absolutely stay away from the sticky or hard candies because I know the damage they can cause. It takes longer for saliva to actively “wash away” the stickier candies, or candies that linger in the mouth, like taffy, gummies and caramels. Any time you have bacteria essentially stuck to the tooth, you are at risk for dental decay.
- Timing is Everything. I have been known to partake in a candy bar or two out of my kids’ Halloween stash. However, we always eat our halloween candy (and other sugary foods) with meals or shortly after mealtime so that the saliva, which increases during meals, can go to work combatting the acids produced by bacteria in our mouths.
- Brush, Rinse, Floss. Strong oral hygiene is so important every day, but when you are knowingly introducing more bacteria into the mouth, it becomes critical. Ensure you, and your little ones, are brushing, rinsing and flossing (yes… flossing), twice daily to keep a healthy mouth. I don’t just preach it… I live it.
So, you don’t have to give up Halloween to keep a healthy mouth… you just have to know what causes dental decay and how to work around it. Education is the scariest weapon of all, especially to lurking bacteria.
If you are interested in an Oakville Dentist, or would like to learn more about our approach to family holistic dental care in Oakville; get in touch with Dr. Agatha Bis and her team by calling 905.338.6684 or by completing the form below.
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Dr. Agatha Bis Dentistry would like to help you switch to a holistic dentist. We are located in Oakville Ontario and help patients from Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton, Mississauga and Toronto with their holistic and cosmetic dental needs.