Halloween can really put parents in a quandary. You want your children to have a great time with all the other kids, but you know all that sugar is bad for their teeth and can lead to dental problems. Here are 3 tips for lessening the impact of the bundles of candy they bring home:

  • Designate a time for treats. To discourage frequent snacking, dole out the candy at certain times, such as dinnertime. Doing so will limit how often your children’s teeth are exposed to the sugar into a single period of time.
  • Treats as part of a meal. When you eat a meal, your mouth produces more saliva than normal. Saliva helps to neutralize the cavity causing behavior of bacteria and washes away the debris of food on your teeth. When your children have their candies and treats as dessert, for example, the saliva will help combat the effects of all that sugar.
  • Beware of hard candies. Lollipops, hard and soft caramels, and other chewy and hard candies can chip or crack a tooth if your child chews on them. Hard candies intended to melt in the mouth over time will stick to your kids’ teeth more aggressively than chocolate, causing the sugar to remain on the enamel significantly longer.
candy

Remember also that a good dental hygiene routine is the foundation of great oral health. Your kids can fight cavities by brushing twice a day and flossing once a day. Flossing is just as important as brushing because it removes the plaque and bacteria harbored between the teeth.

To schedule a routine cleaning and checkup with our experienced dentists in Cherry Creek, CO, please call DeWitt Dental Associates at 303-321-5656.