How to Protect Your Child’s Teeth From Cavities This Halloween
Halloween is one of the most anticipated days of the year, where children get to dress up in costumes and go trick or treating. The highlight of the day is the sweet delight of amassing countless “treats” like candy.
Some might even take it a notch higher and play fun games or have costume parties. But after all is said and done, you have to deal with the aftermath of your child gobbling candy. After all, this is the one day that children get the green light from their parents to eat as much candy as they can. Then, most parents hope that their children’s teeth will survive the onslaught of bacteria.
However, you can say goodbye to cavities with a dental cleaning. A simple dental check-up after Halloween will not hurt. In fact, dental cleaning can be of great help to keep the cavities at bay.
But before we see how you can protect your child’s teeth after Halloween, let’s see what happens to their teeth when they consume lots of candy.
What Happens to Your Child’s Teeth After Eating Candy?
Almost anybody can tell you that candy is bad for your teeth, but not so many people understand why this is so. For starters, there are good and bad bacteria that live in your mouth. The good bacteria can help protect your teeth from getting cavities.
On the other hand, harmful bacteria love to feed on sugary foods. When they feed on sugar, they release acids to digest the sugar, which erodes the enamel and therefore causing cavities.
Other than candy, it would be best if you also peeled your eye for other sugary foods such as syrupy pancakes. Even though the sugar in maple syrup is slightly lower than candy, you need to know that this can also cause tooth decay.
Which Candy Should Your Kid Avoid?
As a general rule of thumb, all sugar is bad for your child’s teeth. But some candy tends to cause more harm than others. However, the kind of candy that your child should avoid is anything chewy or sticky.
If sugar is bad for the teeth, imagine what would happen if sugar gets stuck to the teeth. The bacteria will have a field day, and there is going to be more damage to your child’s teeth.
Another type of candy to avoid is the hard kind, which exposes the teeth to sugar for more extended periods.
How to Prevent Cavities
Since we have already established that sugary stuff increases the risk of getting cavities, then you need to have a contingency that will protect your child’ teeth. Here are some tips that can help you protect your child’ teeth:
- Don’t Forget to Brush
This sounds obvious, but you should remember that this is the first line of defense. It does not matter if your child eats ten pieces of candy or one. Proper brushing will ensure that the candy is removed from your child’s teeth.
A new toothbrush can be an excellent way to get your child excited about brushing. After Halloween, you also need to have your child floss. This is important since candy gets stuck in between teeth. Remind your child how to brush, with gentle strokes while holding the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle toward the gum line.
- Prepare Ahead of Halloween
Since you know that children love candy and can go overboard, you need to plan days before Halloween. This would mean talking to your child about what happens once the bucket has candy. This helps your child choose what they would like to do, like exchanging some of the candy for a no-sugar reward.
It is best if your child knows the ground rules before he or she goes trick or treating.
- Visit Our Dentist
The above tips are awesome but do not forget to make a point to bring your child for a dental exam. Seeing our dentist in Knoxville, TN, Dr Terrie Cribbs, regularly can help prevent cavities and ensure that your child has a healthy smile.
There are many perks of visiting our dentist since there are options like sealants that cover the teeth and act as a barrier that can protect the teeth from cavities.
So, while you are making plans for Halloween this year, get in touch with our dentist at TLC Dental Care to book an appointment.