It’s finally October! Orthodontic Health Month and Halloween! And everywhere I turn I see bags and bags of delicious sugary goodness calling to me like a candy-coated siren. I mean, I may be an orthodontist, but I love sugar as much as the next person. The only difference is that as an orthodontist, I know exactly what sugar can do to your teeth. Below are some tricks you can do to help make your Halloween happier for you, your whole family, and your smile.

TRICK #1: GIVE OUT TOYS INSTEAD OF TREATS
Who says you have to give out candy on Halloween? Instead of passing out candy, pass out cool little toys you can buy in bulk from a store like OrientalTrading.com. The best part, you won’t be tempted to eat the leftovers. And you won’t have to worry about what all that extra sugar is doing to your teeth.

TRICK #2: FLOSS HERE. FLOSS THERE. FLOSS EVERYWHERE
Sometimes it’s hard to remember to floss. To help you remember, I recommend my patients buy a few containers of floss and leave one in the car, and one at their desk at work so that they’re never without it. Besides, when you floss, you not only help keep plaque from building up, you help keep your gums healthy, too.

TRICK #3: GET RID OF YOUR SCARY SMILE FOR GOOD 
Let’s face it, you can’t clean crooked teeth as well as straight teeth. With Invisalign, you’re what everyone sees, not your appliance, and that makes all the difference. And because it’s Orthodontic Health Month, this is the perfect time to finally find out if Invisalign is right for you.

TRICK #4: CHECK YOUR BITE 
Teeth that aren’t aligned correctly, don’t chew food properly. And that can cause digestive issues down the road. If you’re noticing that your jaw is popping or clicking when you eat, or you have trouble digesting meals, your teeth may be one of the culprits. See your orthodontist and have them check your bite.

Interested in learning more tips and tricks, give us a call and we’ll set up a free orthodontic consultation.

Dr. Nowlin