Delta Dental of Missouri Shares Tricks This Halloween to Preserve Healthy Smiles

DELTA DENTAL OF MISSOURI SHARES TRICKS THIS HALLOWEEN TO PRESERVE HEALTHY SMILES

ST. LOUIS (October 28, 2024) … With Halloween right around the corner, children and adults will soon be inundated with sugar-filled candy and treats, which can be detrimental to dental health. Delta Dental of Missouri - the state's leading dental benefits provider and a non-profit organization - is weighing in on the risks of eating too much sugar and offering tips to help trick-or-treaters maintain a healthy smile, even if they consume too many sweet treats this Halloween.

A sugar-rich diet feeds the bacteria that lives in a person's mouth, causing the bacteria to multiply and produce acid that demineralizes teeth. Over time, this will cause tooth decay, gum disease and other oral health problems. To avoid oral health issues caused by consuming candy and other treats this Halloween, Delta Dental of Missouri recommends following these tricks to help maintain a healthy smile:

• Brush teeth for two minutes and floss after consuming candy, and use a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste when brushing.

• Trade sugary treats for healthier options.

• Choose plain chocolate because it won't stick to teeth like other candies do.

• Drink water to wash away sugars left behind by sweets.

With so many sweet treats at hand this season, it's important to pay attention to the amount of added sugar to make healthier choices. This can be done by reading nutrition labels, using fresh fruit as a substitute and opting for water instead of juice and soda. The recommended daily allowance for added sugar is 36 grams per day for men, and 25 grams or less than six teaspoons per day for women and children ages two and up. Too much sugar not only contributes to the risk of dental disease, but also to overall health problems, including weight gain, diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. These risks can be reduced by decreasing sugar intake, not just around Halloween, but year-round.

"Today, half of Americans take in around 227 grams of sugar daily. That's huge-more than nine times the recommended amount," said Nevin Mathai, DMD, dental director at Delta Dental of Missouri. "So, it's vital to limit sugary food and beverages to set a great example for little ones and to always monitor their sugar consumption to help prevent tooth decay. That, combined with good oral hygiene habits and visiting the dentist twice a year, will help preserve good dental health as well as overall health."

About Delta Dental of Missouri

Delta Dental of Missouri is the state's leading dental benefits provider and a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization. It provides more than 2.37 million members with access to affordable, high-quality dental care through group plans tailored to meet the needs of organizations of all sizes, from large corporations to small businesses with two or more employees. Delta Dental also offers dental benefit plans directly to individuals and families. It also provides access to affordable, high-quality vision care through group vision benefit plans. The company proudly supports oral health initiatives, educational programs and charitable causes that help educate people about the importance of dental health and provide free dental care to those in need. Delta Dental of Missouri also created the Missouri Dental Care Resource Guide to help individuals access information about low-cost and free dental care options in their area-available online at www.DeltaDentalMO.com/ResourceGuide1. To learn more about the company, visit www.DeltaDentalMO.com.