Trick or treat? ‘Tis the season for sugar. As Halloween creeps its way around the corner, dental professionals are reminding us to care for our pearly whites as part of National Dental Hygiene Month.
Sharri Crowe, a Dental Hygienist and Dental Consultant for Church Health Services in Beaver Dam, shares tips’ for keeping cavities away this Halloween.
• Don’t graze. Eat candy, or soda, all at once instead of nibbling throughout the day to avoid changing your PH levels which can lead to dental cavities.
• Secret ingredient, Xylitol, may help fight cavities (if it’s listed in first three ingredients). It’s a five-carbon sugar that has been found to kill bacteria.
• Brush your teeth after chowing down on food or drinks that contain sugar and/or acid . Not at home? Rinse with water to neutralize your saliva and stay on track.
Why is dental hygiene so important? According to Crowe, a Special Olympics Special Smiles Clinical Director, oral health affects more than just our teeth and gums.
“Your teeth are connected to the rest of your body so when you don’t take care of your mouth by brushing and flossing, you can injure your overall health,” she said. “Gum disease, if left untreated, can lead to strokes, heart attacks and diabetes. And, for women who are pregnant, gum disease can lead to low birth weight babies.”
Volunteers, like Crowe, will give oral health exams at Special Olympics Special Smiles in April, June and August. Click here to save the date.