Oct 19, 2021
Are you excited for Halloween? We are, too! From the amazing costumes to the spooky decorations – it’s one seriously fun holiday! In the spirit of the season, we thought we’d share some silly Halloween jokes with you this year…because we love to see you smile!
What kind of toothpaste do vampires buy?
Ultra-Bite
What did the ghost say when he found out he had cavities?
Boo Hoo!
Why did the vampire need mouthwash?
Because he had bat breath
What do you call a bear without teeth?
A gummy bear
What does a vampire fear most?
Tooth decay
We hope these jokes gave you a good MWAA-HAA-HA! Please feel free to share some of your favorite Halloween jokes with us on Facebook! All jokes aside, Halloween can be a scary time for your teeth…all those sticky, sugary treats can really wreak havoc on your chompers. Be sure to keep up with your oral health care routine – brushing twice a day and flossing once a day – especially after you eat your trick-or-treating candy! If you’re due for a check up appointment with Dr. Brunacini or Dr. Karagiorgos, or if you have questions about how to maintain a healthy and beautiful smile this holiday season, please call our office today at 207.781.5900. Our team of dental professionals is happy to help you achieve your oral health care goals!
Oct 14, 2019
Ah, Halloween! Little ghouls and goblins are grinning at the prospect of a bag full of candy…while those poor souls responsible for their young fangs find nothing more frightening than impending pounds of sugar. Don’t let ghosts of cavities haunt you this year! The staff at Falmouth Dental Arts is here to help with Five Tips for a Tooth-Happy Halloween.
1. Who you gonna call? CandyBusters! Candy = Sugar = Cavities. We’re all familiar with this equation! This year, consider removing the first variable and revamping your Halloween treat bowl to include a healthier selection. Sugar-free gum, individually-wrapped snack packages of fruits and veggies, cheese sticks, or individual on-the-go yogurt tubes are all fun, unexpected, and tooth-friendly pumpkin-fillers!
2. Stickier is Scarier. Even if you are handing out healthy Halloween snacks, it’s almost inevitable that you and your children will encounter candy this time of year. When choosing which sweets to indulge in, consider texture. Candies such as gummies or taffies adhere to the surface of your teeth with scary sticking power! This residue is a feast for the bad bacteria that cause cavities. Cut down on bacteria by choosing granular goodies like chocolate, which dissolve quickly from the tooth’s surface.
3. Let’s Do the Time Warp! It’s enjoyable to savor your sweets, but the odds of developing a cavity increase the longer that a sugary substance is in your mouth. Hard candies like lollipops or suckers are prolonged sugar bombs for your teeth, causing massive dental destruction! Trading hard candies out for sweets such as chocolate limits sugar exposure and is a safer bet for your bite.
4. Dessert Thriller By strategically timing your candy consumption to align with mealtimes, you’re not only getting a delicious dessert–you’re doing right by your teeth! As we learned in September’s blog post, saliva production increases when you eat, which allows for food residue and bacteria to be naturally washed away with every swallow. Your saliva production is in overdrive during mealtimes, which makes it primetime to pop in a few tasty treats for dessert. Don’t forget to sip water throughout your meal to assist your saliva in cleaning out your mouth. You’ll get the sweet ending your meal deserves, and your teeth will thank you!
5. Brush Away the Boogey Man No matter how or when you consume your Halloween treats, don’t forget to brush twice a day (or more, should you sneak some candy in-between meal times)! Looking to make your daily dental regiment a little spookier this time of year? Turn up this kid-friendly Halloween playlist while you brush!
Does your little vampire have an appointment for their fangs with us on Thursday, October 31st? Kids are welcome to come to Halloween appointments in costume. If you have any questions, or to schedule your appointment, please call our office at 207.781.5900
Oct 30, 2018
Vampires and jack-o-lanterns and ghosts…oh my! Halloween is upon us and that means candy and costumes. While it’s always a good time to think about your dental health, Halloween is also a good time for dental trivia! Why? Because we love these scary and fun facts more than all those sweet treats that get stuck in your teeth and cause cavities. We decided to ask around the office for everyone’s favorite dental trivia to see if we can trick you this Halloween!
What is the hardest substance in the human body?
Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body. Wow!
How much of your life is devoted to brushing your teeth?
The average American spends 38.5 days brushing their teeth over the course of their lifetime. Compare that to an average of 9,125 days spent sleeping and 188 days in the shower.
What’s the scariest Halloween candy?
Sour candy–it has the same pH as battery acid. Yikes!
Do we really eat that much candy at Halloween?
Yes! A typical child’s bag of Halloween candy has 11,000 calories. Also, if you laid out all the candy corn that’s sold each year, it would wrap around the earth 4.25 times. That’s a lot of candy!
What does a vampire fear most?
Tooth decay! Ok, so that was a joke, but did you know that people get vampire teeth implants? Sorry, we do not offer this service at FDA.
Did we trick you? We hope you have fun this Halloween! Remember, to give your teeth a real treat this holiday and everyday by following these tips:
- Avoid hard and sticky candies that linger in your mouth. The longer sugar stays in your mouth, the more your teeth are at risk of tooth decay.
- Eat candy shortly after meals when your mouth is already producing saliva. This helps rinse out the sugars and bacteria.
- Brush & floss your teeth twice a day.
- Come in for regular check-ups! Call us at 207.781.5900.
Happy Halloween from all of us at Falmouth Dental Arts!
Image courtesy of: www.pinterest.com
Oct 30, 2017
Halloween is before us and what more to look forward to than households of children amped up on sugar while their precious teeth remain coated in sticky treats. Let’s not take away their treat-filled fun, but we can certainly help to make it a healthier experience for their smiles, right?
While all candy is delicious and most often packed with sugar, there are some candy choices that are better than others. Here are some questions to keep in mind when choosing what your trick-or-treaters will be snacking on: How sticky is the candy? How long will it take to consume? Is it high in acidity? Each of these questions will help gauge how the candy impacts oral hygiene.
Sticky Candy (Snickers, Starburst, Charleston Chew, etc.):
Candy that sticks to the teeth is more difficult to clean off of the teeth. It’s that simple. Unless the teeth are brushed immediately after consumption, these types of candies are popular in the cavity department. Interestingly enough, if you choose a sticky candy bar, keep in mind that several studies have stated that dark chocolate can help fight against tooth decay. Another tip, nuts help to separate the candy from teeth while also providing dietary value with protein and fiber.
Long-lasting Candy (lollipops, Jawbreakers, sugar-filled bubble gums):
When we expose our teeth to sugars and acidity for long periods of time, we increase the chance of a cavity. However, there are lollipop options like LoLoz that contain zero sugar and actually promote healthy teeth, or Dr. John’s lollipops, THRIVE, which are also sugar free. Xylitol is the sugar alternative in these two treats.
Acidic Candy (Sour Patch Kids, Warheads, Nerds, etc.):
I’m sure you’re wondering how to know when a candy is acidic? Well, if the candy is sour, then it’s definitely acidic. Though these lip-puckering candies are a big hit with the kiddos, they have a tendency to strip the enamel from teeth. The job of tooth enamel is to protect the teeth from decay, so it’s certainly best to keep that enamel in place. A healthier alternative to sour candy? Unfortunately, this is a difficult one to substitute for trick-or-treaters, but a granny smith apple is great for the everyday snack.
Candy happens. The best way to prevent cavities is to brush after eating and to consume in moderation, but if after the Halloween season passes you feel a cleaning is necessary—we are happy to help. Call us anytime at 207-781-5900.
Oct 11, 2016
We all know how packed candies are with sugars, but during Halloween the temptation for sweet treats is too great to resist. A few pieces here and there are fine to eat in moderation, but too many candies will load devilish sugars on our teeth and eat away at our enamel if we don’t follow a proper brushing and flossing routine. How can we enjoy Halloween’s customary perks of eating candy while maintaining good oral health? There are several ways you can do both during this year’s festive night.
- Limit time eating candy. The amount of time your teeth are exposed to sugary candies plays a big role in maintaining proper oral health. If you eat a meal and treat yourself to a piece or two of candy immediately after, your teeth are better off. This is because saliva production increases when you eat meals and cancels out the acid bacteria produces in your mouth. By eating candy directly after a meal, your saliva will help rinse away food particles and candy sugars quickly.
- Choose candies sensibly. Hard candies are the absolute worst. The amount of time they linger in your mouth, spreading sugars along your teeth, can contribute to tooth decay. Similarly, if you bite down on a hard sucker you may risk cracking a molar. To be safe, choose candies like chocolates that disappear quickly. Your teeth will be exposed to sugars much shorter this way.
- Avoid sticky candies. Candy like taffy, caramel, and gummies stick to your teeth relentlessly. Long after you’ve finished chewing, particles of these sticky treats may remain stuck to your molars, eating away at your enamel. You want to be sure you avoid these dental threats as best you can to reduce the chances of getting tooth decay.
- Brush, floss, and drink water. Of course, if you can’t avoid sneaking in a few candies during October’s customary holiday, remember to take care of your teeth after snacking. Brush well, floss, and drink water. Following this routine after consuming sugary snacks (or any meal) is good practice to maintain optimal oral health.
This Halloween, try out some of our tips to enjoy a tooth-friendly holiday. Don’t forget to schedule your next cleaning, if it’s not on the calendar already. Call us at (207) 781-5900 to book an appointment.
