4 TIPS TO PROTECT YOUR TEETH THIS HOLIDAY SEASON WILL ALL THAT HALLOWEEN CANDY AFFECT YOUR ORAL p H?
FALL FAMILY FUN DECORATE YOUR HOUSE WITH YOUR OWN CREATIONS!
The leaves are turning, the weather is changing, and the holidays are right around the corner, which means it’s time to bring out the fall decor! To make this season especially memorable for your family, create your own decorations with these fun ideas below.
PINE CONE PAINTING
Go on a family walk through the park to pick up a few fallen pine cones or take a quick trip to the store to buy a bag. Once everyone has their own hand-picked pine cone, grab a paintbrush and a few colors and have at it! For extra flair, add some fixings like glitter, beads, sequins, string, and more.
With Halloween on the horizon, the opportunities to indulge in sugary and acidic treats and drinks are abundant. While you probably already know goodies like candy and soda can do some general damage your teeth, you might not know how they affect the pH balance in your mouth.
LEAF PAINTING
WHAT IS pH?
Take a trip outside with the kids to pick out some large, unbroken leaves, then head back inside and get creative! You can pull out the construction paper and paint trees, using handprints and “arm prints” as the trunks and branches. Paint the leaves you found to spruce up your trees or use them as decorations on their own. You can also use them for leaf printing or leaf pressing. When you’ve got multiple friends and family members coming over and you need snacks, edible decorations are the way to go. You can get a little creative and make elaborate treats, or you can opt for delicious and easy-to-make finger foods with your kids. A good starting treat for your family is a batch of pumpkin Rice Krispie Treats. Add orange food coloring to the mix and get your kids to shape the treats like pumpkins before using a few pretzel sticks to make sturdy stems. FUN FINGER FOOD
The pH scale is a measure of the acidity of a given substance. It ranges from 0–14 — 0 being the most acidic and 14 the most basic (or alkaline). When it comes to oral pH, you should think of the human mouth as a watery ecosystem that, like the rest of the body, requires a balanced pH that is ever so slightly alkaline. Usually, your saliva sits around a pH of 7.6. But when you consume acidic foods and drinks, your oral pH is tipped, creating an imbalance that immediately starts to wear away the enamel on your teeth. If that protective layer wears away, it leaves your teeth vulnerable to plaque and bacteria, which cause decay, sensitivity, and discoloring. • DON’T GRAZE Sipping on drinks and snacking on food are two main culprits when it comes to acidity and tooth decay. Keeping a soda or snack at your desk to graze on will create a long-term acidic environment in your mouth without giving your saliva a chance to rebalance it. Not to mention the consistent supply of food (read: sugar) you’re providing for decay- causing bacteria. • RINSE WITH WATER Every time you are sipping on an acidic beverage or snacking on anything sugary or starchy, have a glass of water nearby. Alternating between the acidic drink/snack and water will help your mouth to rebalance faster. • CHEW GUM After a meal or an acidic drink, chew sugar-free gum, ideally one containing xylitol (my personal recommendation is Trident). The action of chewing gum encourages the mouth to make saliva, which over time will restore pH balance. To prevent these issues this Halloween season, keep the following tips in mind! • WAIT TO BRUSH YES, you read that correctly! Do not brush your teeth immediately after having a soda, cider, fruit juices, candy, etc. Because the enamel is already softened by the acidity, toothbrush bristles will literally brush off the enamel, thinning that protective layer surrounding the dentin. Instead, rinse and swish with water and wait at least 30 minutes before you brush. While as a dentist I’m in the “no candy zone,” as a father and holiday-celebrating human, I’m all for letting yourself enjoy the treats that come with each holiday. At the same time, I advocate for moderation and keeping these tips in mind so you can indulge AND protect your teeth. Happy Halloween! For more information on oral pH, check out our blog article: ATownDental.com/Is-That-Drink-in-Your-Hand- Destorying-Your-Teeth/
THANKSGIVING CRAFTS
Thanksgiving is only a month away, and your possibilities for holiday- themed crafts are endless
with just a few supplies like paper, scissors, markers, and string. You can make turkey placemats, tissue paper trees, pumpkin garlands, paper pumpkins, or leaf mobiles to hang from the ceiling. Compile a list of
ideas and have your kids pick out which craft they want to do first, then get to work together to create as many decorations as you
want to display for Turkey Day.
With these engaging craft ideas, the whole family will be eager to make their own decorations and show them off for months to come!
2 • WWW.ATOWNDENTAL.COM
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