Happy Halloween! See our Toothy Costume Ideas!

Carve that pumpkin and put on the face paint - it's officially Halloween! If you love this holiday, you are certainly not alone. Kids and adults alike get to dress up as whatever they like - from scary costumes, to funny costumes, and even "Punny" costumes are now the trend (dressing us as a word pun). 

We've put together a list of our favorite "teeth" themed costumes that are sure to give people a smile. They're easy to put together, and tons of fun to wear.

So this year for Halloween, why not dress up as a...

1. Wisdom Tooth!

Dress in all white, with a long white beard. Get it? You're wise looking and in white, like a tooth!

2. Tooth Fairy!

This is an old favorite. The costume can look a lot like a fairy, with wings, a tutu, etc. The catch is you'll carry money or a pouch of coins. We also suggest attaching tooth drawing to yourself so it's even more clear.

3. Dentist!

Call us biased, but we think this is a great costume! It's easy to create (you just need a white coat) and it's a crowd pleaser. 

 

A cute couples costume is a tooth fairy and dentist together. A match made in heaven! 

Or get the whole family involved and be tooth-related items! 

So enjoy Halloween this year, but do your best to limit your candy intake. We know it's tough and tempting, but staying healthy should always be your #1 priority. And speaking of cutting back on candy, that brings us to our "Filling You In" section...

"Filling You In"

Our Halloween Candy Buy Back Program is in full effect!! We want kids to bring in their Halloween candy, and we'll donate what they give to the troops overseas. Plus, for every pound of candy that's donated, we'll match it with $1, up to $5. Plus, bringing in your candy enters you into an awesome raffle with amazing prices up for grabs! Kids can also bring in letters for the troops that will be sent with the candy. 

We'll keep you posted on the program on Facebook and Twitter! 

How NOT to brush!

We often discuss the "Do's" of brushing your teeth. But it's just as important to remember the Don'ts! Brushing your teeth really becomes a ritual we do, every day, multiple times a day. But how often do you stop and think about what exactly you're doing and if you're doing it properly? Today's the day we want you to do pause for a moment and think about what not do while brushing. So let's get to it!

1. DON'T brush your teeth just once a day. Twice or three times is ideal (once after every meal).

2. DON'T brush too often. Brushing four, five times or more a day can wear away at your enamel and increase gum recession.

3. DON'T brush at a 90 degree angle. Brush gently at a 45 degree angle to properly reach your gums.

4. DON't brush back-and-forth. Brushing in a straight line can irritate teeth. Always brush in a circular motion.

5. DON'T brush too roughly. Gentle brushing is key. 

6. DON'T use a stiff-bristled brush. Always go for a softer brush, as the strong/stiff brushes do more harm than good.

7. DON'T floss after you brush. Remember to floss before brushing, to loosen plaque and expose areas that need the brushing.

And that's it! 7 tips to remember NOT to do. What "Don't Do" tips would you share?

'Filling You In'

It's our First Annual Halloween Candy Buy Back Program!! Kids can bring in their candy and receive $1 per pound (up to 5 lbs.) and their candy will be donated to our troops! Save your teeth from tooth decay and help us sweeten a soldier's day! We'll have more updates on this after Halloween :)

Save your teeth from tooth decay and help us sweeten a soldier's day!

Big, exciting news to report from Toms River Family Dental! We're hosting our First Annual Halloween Candy Buy Back Program! It's starting right now at our practice and it's really putting a big smile on everyone's face. What are the details? Glad you asked!

Around this time of year, there's definitely an influx of candy. Candy corn, chocolate bars, sour patch kids, you name it. With all of that candy, there is a good amount of sweets that kids can give up and give away - but why not make it more enjoyable and help others too? That's where the vision for our First Annual Halloween Candy Buy Back Program came from.

Kids are bringing in their Halloween candy and receiving $1 per pound (up to 5 lbs.) for the amount they give away. Best of all, all of their candy will be donated to our troops overseas! Along with the candy, kids are bringing in letters of encouragement to send with the treats. Also, every child that participates is entered into our raffle to win amazing prizes and gift cards! So not only are our troops getting candy, but our kids are saving their teeth from all of that sugar and potentially winning something in return. It's definitely a win, win all around.

We'll have more to update and pictures to share soon, as this program gets going. Be sure to come by, bring your candy and letters, to save your teeth from tooth decay and help us sweeten a soldier's day! 

Are Cigars Worth the Celebration?

Puffing away on a cigar may not seem like a big deal. In fact, it may even seem somewhat glamorous and sophisticated. Cigars have been successfully marketed as an upscale treat, symbolizing wealth and decadence since the turn of the century. 

Cigar smoking is very often seen in hollywood too. Movies portray actors and actresses smoking cigars all the time. It's a common commemorative way to celebrate something. People often think that since they're not inhaling the smoke, it's not as damaging. They even think it's a safer alternative to smoking cigarettes. But in reality, it is very harmful to not just your teeth, but your overall health. 

Cigars have 40 times the amount of nicotine and tar found in a cigarette.  That extra nicotine may be why smoking just a few cigars a week is enough to trigger addiction. Also, one cigar can contain more than a 1/2 ounce of tobacco, which is just as much tobacco as an entire pack of cigarettes.

Cigar smoking can also cause permanent stains to teeth and chronic bad breath. Worst of all, it increases your chances for life threatening diseases like cancer, lung disease, and heart disease. Exposure to tobacco carcinogens are a leading cause of throat and mouth cancer. So next time you're thinking about taking a leisurely puff on a cigar, we hope you'll think again. 

Seal the Deal with Sealants

Dental sealant may not be something you're familiar with, but get ready to get familiar! Sealant is a wonderful, often underrated defense against tooth decay. It's an option and an opportunity we're brining to a lot of our patients, and today we'll discuss what it is and if it's right for you or your children. 

Brushing and flossing is, of course, the best way to keep teeth clean. But often, there are crevices and crowded spaces towards the back of our mouths that are much harder to get to, and therefore, much harder to clean. Wouldn't it be nice if your teeth were somehow shielded from plaque? Glad you asked! And we definitely agree!

Dental sealant is a coating painted on the surfaces of teeth, particularly the top area of back molars where most chewing is done. The shield of coasting is extremely thin and the process is painless. The sealant creates a protective layer over each tooth seals out plaque for up to 10 years. 

Children and teenagers are great candidates for dental sealant because it's more likely that their teeth are in the best condition for preservation. Adults without cavities are candidates too. Next time your in for a cleaning, feel free to ask us about dental sealant and see if it's right protection for you! :)