Halloween is coming up, and we all know that means… lots of candy for the kids! While Halloween is a fun holiday and children love collecting tons of candy to eat, it’s important to keep dental health in mind around this time of year. Sugar is a major cause of cavities in children, so watching out for problems and preventing damage is critical. Our orthodontist in St. Matthews, SC, offers some advice on how to care for teeth during a sugar-fuelled holiday!
#1: Consider Different Candies
Different types of candy affect teeth differently. Chocolate is the best for the teeth, as it is the easiest to fully brush away and doesn’t stick to the teeth. However, hard candies and sticky candies are the hardest to brush and floss away, so they should be consumed less to preserve dental health. Sour candies are another type to be aware of—they are acidic and can weaken tooth enamel, leading to decay.
#2: Practice Good Hygiene
After your child eats their share of candy during the holiday, make sure that they brush their teeth immediately after to wash away the sugar. The longer that sugar is allowed to sit on the teeth, the higher the chances are that it will cause decay. Sugar feeds the decay-causing bacteria in the mouth, so the longer it stays before being brushed away, the more likely it is to feed a growing cavity.
#3: Go for Regular Dental Exams
It is crucial that your child has regular exams at the dentist to ensure that their teeth and gums are healthy. It’s also a great idea to use Halloween time as an opportunity to teach children about the benefits of brushing and flossing, and the details of cavity prevention and how certain foods, like candy and sugar, affect their dental health. It is important to understand the measures that should be taken to provide long-term dental health benefits.
If your child eats a lot of sugar, they should come in for regular checkups to ensure that they don’t have any cavities forming.
Contact our orthodontist in St. Matthews, SC, for more information regarding children’s dental exams and have your questions answered today!
The information provided in this article is not meant to be medical advice and is for educational purposes only. If you would like to learn more about this and other topics related to orthodontics, feel free to contact White Brown Smiles, with a convenient orthodontic office in St. Matthews, SC, by clicking here or by calling 803.708.7390.
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