It’s almost that time of year again when children dress up in cute costumes and go around the neighborhood asking for (and getting) lots of candy!
How can we let our children enjoy this fun tradition without getting cavities?
First, let’s talk about what causes cavities- also known as tooth decay or caries.
Cavities are formed by a combination of many factors, from the bacteria in your mouth, how much sugar is in your diet, how well you brush and floss, to how frequently you snack.
Bacteria in your mouth feed on sugars, which then form plaque.
If this plaque, a biofilm, isn’t cleaned off and stays on the teeth, it releases acids and wears away enamel- the outermost portion of your tooth.
Without proper brushing and flossing, the enamel will be destroyed and a cavity will form. If the cavity is left untreated, it will become bigger and may cause pain.
The type of sugars eaten also matter.
You should steer your children away from “sticky” candy or dried fruit. Those gummy vitamins that all children love are actually candy and also bad for your teeth. You should instead try to use chewable or liquid vitamins.
The more frequently they snack, the more acid attacks the teeth are exposed to.
You may be thinking, why does this matter- these are just baby teeth.
Although the front teeth fall out around six to eight years old, the back teeth (canines and molars) don’t fall out until 10 to 12 years old. That’s a long time to have decay in your mouth.
Cavities that become too big may need a root canal, or cause an infection and need an extraction. When teeth are extracted too early, there may be space loss and cause orthodontic problems in the future.
So how can we keep this Halloween Cavity Free? Here are some tips:
1. Pick out some candy for your child to consume all in one sitting, instead of one candy everyday for the next week. It is better to have one “acid attack” than to have one every day.
2. Pick out chocolate (Hershey’s Kisses) instead of the sticky candies (Fruit Snacks, Skittles)
3. Brush and floss thoroughly afterwards!
4. Bring them to a dentist that “buys back” candy for Halloween. Make it a fun experience for your child to get money or prizes for giving away their candy.
5. Make sure they get regular checkups from their pediatric dentist twice a year.
Dr. Angie Chin, pediatric dentist, Tiny Sparkles Pediatric Dentistry, Port Washington.
www.tinysparkles.com
