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5 tips to enjoy your treat without playing tricks on your teeth!
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Posted on Oct 30 2011
[B]By LORI I. SERNA RDH, MED.[/B]
[I]Special to the Saipan Tribune[/I]
October is a special month for me for two reasons. National Dental Hygiene month is celebrated in October but let’s face it, the rest of the country is busy looking forward to celebrating one of my favorite if not my favorite pseudo holiday: Halloween!
I love Halloween! In my opinion it is the one time of the year that everyone has an opportunity to be a child once again and give in to the urge to dress up and be anyone you want to be for just one day. I have been dressing up for years and about three years ago I had the pleasure of coming to work dressed up as a cow, literally. I was about eight months pregnant and so I had the belly to go with the costume.
As a dental professional what concerns me is the amount of candy that is consumed and handed out at parties or local events. Don’t get me wrong, I am not going to “rain on any parades.” After all I did just say it is one of my favorite holidays. However I do want to share some tips for better dental health so you can enjoy the goodies without putting your teeth as well as your children’s teeth at risk for those nasty cavities.
-Eat a variety of food. Choose fruits, vegetables and healthy protein such as lean meats as well as nuts and low fat cheeses.
-Limit the number of snacks that you eat. Each time you eat food that contains sugars, the teeth are attacked by acids after 20 minutes or more. This increases the chances of getting a cavity.
-When you snack, choose wisely. If you do snack, choose nutritious foods, such as cheese, raw vegetables, plain yogurt, or a piece of fruit.
-Eat sweets with meals. Foods that are eaten as part of a meal cause less harm. More saliva is released during a meal, which helps wash foods from the mouth and helps lessen the effects of the acids on your teeth.
-Brush twice a day and floss once.
By following these simple tips you can prevent cavities as well as increase your oral health year-round. Now get out there and have some fun. Happy “Trick-or-Treating.”
[I]Lori Serna is a Dental Hygienist who works with the Saipan’s SDA dental clinic, on improving dental care and well as awareness throughout the CNMI.[/I]
