Submitted by Pediatric Smiles of Bloomington
Halloween is just around the corner, which may be a scary thought for anyone concerned about children’s teeth. One of the primary reasons for tooth decay is gobbling up too much sugar. Bacteria in the mouth use sugar to grow, multiply, and produce acids. The acids then begin to eat away at the tooth’s enamel (the hard outer surface), and a cavity may form. Following are 10 tips to help kids (and adults) enjoy their spooky stash of sweets without turning their mouth into a dental nightmare.
- Some types of candy are better than others. You might be surprised to know that suckers and hard candy are one of the worst! That’s because they stay in the mouth for a long time which is like giving your teeth a nice long soak in an enamel-destroying acid bath!
- Avoid sticky types of candy like taffy, tootsie rolls, gummy worms, “fruit” snacks, and peanut brittle as they cling to the teeth and are difficult to brush or rinse away. These types of candy can also cause problems with fillings or crowns.
- Dried fruit is just as bad as candy when it comes to tooth decay. While they may have more nutritional value, raisins and fruit roll-ups have high amounts of sugar and are horrible for teeth because, like sticky candy, they linger in the cracks and crevices and don’t rinse or brush away very easily.
- The best kind of candy is chocolate! Chocolate melts away quickly and is very easy to brush or rinse off. While there isn’t any candy that is good for teeth, those that dissolve quickly in saliva are the least harmful.
- Everyone knows that candy has a lot of sugar, but what many people don’t realize is that sugar is also in almost everything we consume! Cereal bars, flavored yogurt, juice, sports drinks, ketchup, and squeezable fruit all contain large amounts of sugar that have the same decay-producing effect on teeth as candy.
- Starchy foods like chips and crackers can be as bad for teeth as candy! According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, “Starches can lead to cavities just as sugars can, and caramels dissolve more quickly from the mouth than crackers. A cracker may be more figure-friendly, but it is not a teeth-friendly snack.”
- Eat candy or other sweets right after a meal instead of snacking throughout the day. This reduces the amount of time that sugar is in contact with teeth. In addition, the saliva produced during a meal helps to mitigate the acid-producing bacteria.
- If you are unable to brush right away after eating candy, rinsing with water is better than doing nothing. Rinsing with water will get some of the sugar off the teeth.
- Chewing sugarless gum after a meal or after eating candy increases saliva production, which helps neutralize the acid-producing bacteria. Look for one that contains Xylitol, which is actually beneficial for teeth.
- Consider trading candy for non-food goodies like pennies, stickers, party favors, etc.
Candy can certainly be part of Halloween fun without posing a risk to a happy, healthy smile. Use common sense and limit the amount and frequency of eating candy, take extra care to floss and brush twice a day, and see your dentist every six months to “treat” small problems before they become big ones.
Pediatric Smiles of Bloomington is a specialized dental office for children 0 to 18 and special-needs patients. They are located at 1112 Trinity Ln. in Bloomington and may be reached at 309-663-7339. Ask about their “No-Cavity Club” and the rewards kids may earn.
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