The Halloween season is full of spooky sights, but you don’t want your child’s teeth to be one of them. While Halloween is a frightful blast of terrifying fun, it leaves the teeth of children everywhere awash with sugary candy that can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. Without the proper precautions, one month of scary celebrations can lead to dental emergencies later on. Here are a few tips to help your family avoid oral health problems during the Halloween season.
Some Candies Are Worse for Your Teeth than Others
While added sugars are bad for your teeth in general, some types of candies are more egregious offenders than others. Sticky, gooey sweets can be sinister snacks because they can easily become stuck in the teeth and be quite difficult to remove. These stubborn sticky bits clinging to your child’s teeth can be sort of like a fortress/all-you-can-eat buffet for the harmful bacteria that cause tooth decay and gum disease. Since this debris will be right up against the teeth, these germs won’t have far to travel before they start causing cavities.
Hard candies aren’t any better. These solid confections are intended to dissolve slowly in the mouth, which gives them ample time to coat the teeth in a sugary film. Biting down on them can be just as dangerous because they can be so hard that they can chip or break the teeth. Sour candies might be the worst of all because they are full of dietary acids. Acid is one of the worst things for your teeth, so these candies can cause tooth decay without the help of any bacteria.
Mealtimes Are the Best Times for Candy
When you sit down for a meal, your mouth begins producing extra saliva to help with the digestion process. Ample saliva flow can mitigate a lot of the damage candy can do by keeping the teeth lubricated and diluting and washing away food debris and sugary residues. Pack some candy with your child’s lunch or let them have some after they finish dinner.
Make Sure Your Child Practices Excellent Oral Hygiene
Developing solid oral hygiene habits early in life can mean the difference between a lifetime with healthy teeth and many years of dental distress. A complete oral hygiene routine includes brushing, flossing, and using antibacterial mouthwash. It’s best to brush twice a day, once after breakfast and once before bed. Flossing is just as important, so make sure your child gets in the habit. Flossing at night is best because it can let the teeth rest while free from debris while your child sleeps. Antibacterial mouthwash kills more than 99% of the germs that cause tooth decay and gum disease.
Don’t let Halloween get the best of your child’s smile. With a little caution about candy consumption, your child’s smile can be healthy through October and for the rest of the year as well!
About the Author
Dr. Ishwinder Saran earned his DMD from Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine. He has extensive training and experience in all phases of general dentistry and serves as a member of the American Dental Association, the New York State Dental Association, and the Massachusetts Dental Society. His office in Long Island City, NY offers general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry. For more information on keeping your child’s teeth safe this Halloween, contact the office online or dial (718) 280-3286.