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Smile. It’s Halloween! | Huntington Beach Dentist

Happy Halloween to you! The one day a year where your little one can pretend they’re anything and eat their weight in free candy, simply be saying ‘trick or treat’. Between trick-or-treating, parties, and festivals, Halloween can one big cavity-creating sugar rush. If your child has diabetes, things need to change a bit, but nothing you can’t monitor without them feeling left out. Here are some tips:

Sit down with your child and discuss your Halloween plans in advance so they know what to expect. Because of the pandemic, things have changed a bit during this spooky time of year. Create some boundaries and general rules and involve them in the decision making throughout the festivities. They’ll be more likely to be on board with a plan they helped create. Find out what’s most important to them about the day and try to work together to meet in the middle so diabetes management can remain a priority.

Make sure they don’t think they are losing out at all by take the focus off of candy. Encourage making arts and crafts projects, entering pumpkin carving/painting contests, watching a Halloween movie, etc. Planning to go trick-or-treating? Many are trying different techniques to make trick or teating as safe as possible

Lots of candy will create havoc in your mouth, so teaching moderation is important. You can have too much of a good thing. Set a rule as to how many pieces of candy your child can eat a day, have your child pick their favorite pieces of candy, and get rid of the rest. Your child can enjoy a few pieces of candy throughout the week without creating issues with insulin or cavities.

If you would like to find out more about floss, contact Dr. Rudy Gamarnik at 714-842-5626 to schedule a consultation or visit www.hbadvanceddentalspecialists.com for additional information.

Dr. Gamarnik proudly serves Huntington Beach and all surrounding areas.

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Why You Need to Brush Your Teeth this Halloween | Huntington Beach Dentist

As we embark on another Halloween night, it is important to understand that dental hygiene is particularly necessary during this time of year in order to prevent dental issues from arising later on down the line. Because if you eat loads of sugary sweets, but don’t keep up with dental hygiene, it could lead to cavities and even worse, gingivitis. The cause of gingivitis may vary slightly but is typically due to poor oral hygiene.

Gingivitis typically progresses due to plaque, an invisible sticky film composed of bacteria that builds on the surface of teeth over time. Brushing and flossing removes plaque, but failure to brush and floss allows the plaque to harden into tartar, which is calcified and nearly impossible to remove with simple brushing.

Treatments for gingivitis tend to be less invasive than those for periodontal disease, because gingivitis is a milder case of the disease. Primary treatment for gingivitis is going to be an in-office dental cleaning, where tartar can be removed, plaque will be cleaned, and the dentist may use physical instruments to remove buildup below the gum line.

Left untreated, gingivitis will eventually lead to periodontal disease, where the bacteria work their way into the deeper gum pockets and, eventually, the bone beneath the teeth. Treatment for periodontal disease will be far more involved.

There are a number of treatment options for both gingivitis and periodontal disease, but the easiest way to deal with periodontal disease is to avoid allowing plaque and tartar buildup in order to develop gingivitis in the first place. Regular professional cleanings and thorough home hygiene are necessary. Happy Halloween!

If you would like to find out more about gingivitis, Dr. Gamarnik at 714-842-5626 to schedule a consultation or visit www.hbadvanceddentalspecialists.com for additional information.

Dr. Gamarnik proudly serves Huntington Beach and all surrounding areas.