As a mom of four kids, I am bombarded with candy-questions this time of year. It’s tough to try to limit sweets and still allow children to enjoy Halloween and all the sugary fun it brings. What can parents, grandparents and caregivers do to help reduce the risk of tooth decay in children this time of year?
It helps to have a game plan!
•Choose Quick-Melting Candy Instead of Super Sticky Candy – Bacteria in the mouth feed off the sugars present in candy. These bacteria produce acid which first causes the tooth enamel to become chalky, extra-white and brittle. If the acid attack continues, the chalky tooth enamel erodes away, leaving behind yellow and brown pits and holes which are “cavities.” The stickiness of candy makes a huge difference in how long the acid attack continues. Super sticky candies, and especially sugary gummies (even the “all-natural organic” ones!) can stick around in the grooves and crevices of teeth for more than 18 hours AFTER brushing. This feeds the continuing acid attack against the tooth enamel and greatly increases a child’s risk of early tooth decay. Try switching out the super sticky candies with chocolate-based candies or baked treats like pretzels that melt away quickly and won’t remain for hours stuck in the grooves of the teeth.
•Consider Limiting the Frequency of Candy-Eating – Kids that snack more frequently subject their teeth to more acid attacks. The bacteria in the mouths of frequent candy-snackers are always churning out acid that pools in and around the teeth and leads to an increased risk of cavities. The pH level of the mouth is never able to recover from the constant acid attack fueled by the snacks and the teeth typically look chalkier across the front incisors and we often see pits in the molars that have developed into holes because of the constant snacking. Instead, you can consider restricting access to candy to a limited time period during the day. It’s actually best to pick a time that’s not too late in the day. If you choose an earlier “snack break,” then the snacks and candy have more time to get chewed away during a meal and are less likely to remain stuck in the grooves of the teeth and cause tooth decay at night.
•Replace Juice or Sugar-Added Drinks with Water – Kids need something to wash down their sweet treats. Giving juice and sugary drinks just fuels the acid attack even more. Consider that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no more than four ounces of juice (one small juice box) for kids age one to three years old and no more than four to six ounces of juice for kids age four to six years old. You can rely on the Halloween candy being sweet enough and encourage kids to drink water during their candy-snacking treats.
We can all work together to reduce the risk of tooth decay in our children and for the children in our community. You can visit the website www.skypediatricdentistry.com, check us out on Facebook, email info@skypediatricdentistry.com or call 270-715-5437 for more information on the practice and to schedule an appointment at our Bowling Green, Hopkinsville and our NEW Goodlettsville location. Keep brushing, flossing and limit candy-snacking to keep spooky cavities away!
-by Dr. Mandy Ashley and Dr. Madison Galloway
About Our Dentists: Dr. Mandy Ashley and Dr. Madison Galloway are Board Certified Pediatric Dentists proud to serve the communities of Bowling Green, Hopkinsville, Glasgow and Goodlettsville! We look forward to sharing our vision of excellent comprehensive dental care that is fun for children and people with special healthcare needs with your family.
Be the first to comment