Halloween was One Week ago

Post Halloween Tips

Halloween is, let’s face it, a holiday built around candy consumption. There are lot of good reasons to restrict your child’s intake of candy but doling it out one piece at a time might not be the best idea for protecting their teeth.

When you dole out a continuous stream of single candies, instead of allowing larger portions less frequently, you’re keeping the level of sugar high throughout the entire day. Decay-causing bacteria feast on the sugars in candy and produce acid that dissolves minerals in tooth enamel. Once the enamel is weak and soft, teeth are more vulnerable to toothbrush abrasion, abrasive toothpaste products and decay. Each acid attack can last about 20 minutes, so giving your child one piece every hour is a constant acid attack from which the enamel never has a chance to recover.

Current recommendations are:

• Brush before eating sweets to get the teeth as clean as possible.
• Let your child eat several pieces of candy at one time.
• After finishing the candy, rinse with water or a fluoride rinse but don’t brush.
• Wait at least 40 minutes for saliva to reharden the enamel, then, brush with fluoride toothpaste.

Another recommendation is, after a sugary treat, to offer chewing gum or mints that list xylitol as the first ingredient. Xylitol is a natural sugar that prevents bacteria from producing decay-causing acid. Note: Xylitol is poisonous to dogs. Don’t allow your dog to eat anything that contains xylitol.

And not all candies are created equally. In order from worst to best:

1. Sour candies (enamel dissolving acid plus sugar)
2. Sticky candies like taffies and caramels (clings to teeth)
3. Hard candies and lollipops (lingers in the mouth longer)
4. Powdered candies (dissolves on tongue. Requires no chewing)
5. Sugar-free candies and gums

And the same rules apply to you, too. Indulging that adult sweet tooth must be done thoughtfully to avoid dental disasters. The trick is to enjoy that treat without forgetting your oral health. A little planning and regular dental checkups will keep your holidays happy.