Dr. Arpan Patel and our team in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, want to wish you and your loved ones a fun and healthy Halloween now that fall is officially underway. To help you achieve this, we are sharing with you a message from the American Dental Hygienists’ Association, which is, “Do The Daily 4”.

We believe these four practices will help you achieve and maintain a healthy smile, and they will also help you and your loved ones strike a healthy balance between celebrating the holiday festivities and preserving the smile health you have worked hard to gain.

Do The Daily 4

1 – Brushing: brush your teeth twice a day for at least two minutes each time lessens plaque to help prevent tooth decay and Gum Disease.

2 – Flossing: floss in between your teeth and gums once a day–using dental floss or interdental brushes–to remove food particles and plaque in those places where your toothbrush can’t clean effectively.

3 – Rinsing: rinse with an ADA approved anti-microbial mouthwash once a day to freshen breath and prevent gum disease.

4 – Chewing: chew sugarless gum to “clean” your teeth for those times when you can’t brush after eating and drinking. This stimulates saliva production which neutralizes plaque acids, remineralizes enamel, and washes away food particles.

Fun Halloween Tip: fill a kitchen bowl with small oranges, tangerines or clementines decorated to look like jack-o-lanterns (with non-toxic ink). You can also add non-sweet treats such as pencils, erasers, stickers, temporary tattoos, glow sticks, play-doh, sticky spooky eyeballs and wiggly spider rings for fun.

If you can incorporate these four daily practices, along with regular professional dental cleanings, your smile will thank you. We invite you to call (215) 750-2222 if you have any questions about your oral health or want to schedule a visit with our dentist. Dr. Arpan Patel and our team in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, wish you and yours a festive and healthy Halloween!