Halloween is a blast for adults – fun costumes, festive drinks and sweet treats. But candy and cocktails can raise your oral health risks, and certain costumes might hurt your eyes, teeth and gums. Understanding these hidden dangers helps you celebrate the spooky season safely.
When Candy and Cocktails Attack
Sweets and cocktails are party staples, but they feed oral bacteria and dry out your mouth.
- Sticky candies cling to teeth, fueling acid production that erodes enamel.
- Hard candies such as jawbreakers can strain your jaw joints, damage fillings and crowns or chip your teeth.
- Alcohol reduces saliva flow, causing dry mouth and giving cavity-causing germs a boost.
- Sugary cocktails add extra risk. Be mindful of mixers that are packed with added sugar.
Vampire Fangs Have a Bit of Bite
Novelty fangs and teeth may complete your costume, but beware – they may bite back.
- Plastic fangs and similar gear can rub against or cut your gums and trap food or bacteria against your teeth.
- Keeping non-food items in your mouth can alter your bite, leading to jaw soreness, chipped teeth or cracked fillings.
- Costume masks that force unnatural positions may strain your jaw and trigger headaches.
Be Cautious with Colored Contacts
Colored lenses are certainly spooky, but not for the reasons you may think. Using non-prescription lenses that are not fitted by an optometrist can cause a lot of damage:
- Non-prescription colored contacts can scratch the cornea, cause infections and if worn for an extended period of time, can even lead to blindness.
- Decorative lenses often let in less oxygen, which can lead to dry eye, bacterial growth or even a painful sore called a corneal ulceration.
- If you plan to wear colored contacts, visit your optometrist for an eye exam and lens fitting before Halloween.
- Always buy FDA-approved lenses with a valid prescription and follow care instructions.
Did you know? It is illegal to sell colored contacts without a prescription, even if you don’t need vision correction.
Make a Healthy Smile Your Everyday Costume
Keep fright night fun and shield your smile and vision with these party-ready tips:
- Indulge wisely when your sweet tooth strikes. Limit the sticky candies you consume and enjoy dark chocolate instead – it has less sugar than traditional chocolate, plus it provides fiber and antioxidants!
- Sip water between beverages to wash down food, stay hydrated and boost saliva flow.
- Don’t skip your oral health routine! Brush and floss before bed, especially if you’ve had candy and cocktails.
- Choose a costume that uses safe materials like temporary makeup and soft props instead of fangs, non-prescription contacts and other potentially harmful items.
Enjoy every haunted grin and eerie eyes this Halloween – just don’t let costumes, cocktails and candy harm your oral or vision health!
