Tips for a "Tooth"rific Halloween

Halloween is an exciting holiday for kids, as they look forward to dressing up as their favorite characters and getting lots of yummy candy.  However, with all the extra candy can come extra tooth decay and cavities.  By following these simple tips you can keep kid's teeth healthy while they enjoy Halloween.

1. Choose candy wisely- Not all candy is equally scary for your teeth.  Choose candy that melts quickly and is eaten quickly (like chocolate).  Avoid candy that is sticky, gooey, chewy, or that sits in your mouth for long periods of time (like caramel).  When candy sits in your mouth it allows bacteria to produce the acid that causes tooth decay.

2. Keep candy out of reach- Gather up all the candy your kids collected and keep it out of reach and out of sight.  This keeps you and the kids from constantly thinking about and eating the candy.  It also keeps kids from being able to eat candy throughout the entire day without you being aware of it.

3. Avoid grazing- Don't allow children to constantly eat candy during the day.  This lengthens the amount of time sugar is in contact with teeth.  Instead have kids eat their candy at specific times, such as with a snack or after meals.  It is always best to eat sweets with other foods. The presence of the additional food increases the saliva production in the mouth. Plaque thrives on the acids produced by sugar. This increase in saliva helps to break down the sugar quickly, which in turn decreases the amount of acid produced in the mouth.

4. Eat Healthy Meals- Try to ensure children eat a good, hearty meal prior to trick-or-treating, so there will be less temptation to gorge on candy.  Eat healthy meals on a regular basis to prevent excessive snacking on candy throughout the year, as well as during Halloween.

5. Brush and Floss- Brush and floss immediately after your child eats candy.  You can also have them rinse with children's fluoride mouth wash to give extra protection to their teeth.  If brushing their teeth is not an immediate option have them chew sugarless gum, which will increase saliva production and help break down sugar.

6.Visit your dentist regulary- Check ups help maintain healthy teeth and gums. Your dentist can detect oral infections, gum disease, and cavities earlier. Allowing for easier management of dental disease.

Use Halloween to teach children they can still have fun, and eat their candy too. By following these tips, they will learn how to enjoy the occasional treat while remembering the health of their teeth at the same time. 

The Misuse of Sippy Cups

Sippy cups are meant to help children transition from bottles to cups.  They are a convenient way to prevent spills as children learn this new skill.  However, sippy cups are often overused and misused, leading to tooth decay among toddlers and preschoolers.  Sippy cups can cause tooth decay when they are filled with sugary beverages that children are allowed to sip on throughout the day.  This constantly coats their teeth in sugar which allows bacteria and plaque to form causing tooth decay.  The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry offers these tips to help parents know how to properly use sippy cups:

•  The sippy cup is a training tool to help children transition from a bottle to a cup. It shouldn’t be used for a long period of time - it’s not a bottle and it’s not a pacifier.
• Unless being used at mealtime, the sippy cup should only be filled with water. Frequent drinking of any other liquid, even if diluted, from a bottle or no-spill training cup should be avoided.
• Sippy cups should not be used at naptime or bedtime unless they only have water in them.

Your dentist can further explain the proper use of sippy cups and can evaluate your child for tooth decay.  Use the sippy cup appropriately and let kids try real cups too.  They will be excited to be a big kid and will get the hang of it faster than you may think!

Is Fluoride Safe for Kids?

The use of fluorides for the prevention and control of caries is documented to be both safe and highly effective.

Fluoride is important in your child’s dental health as it helps prevent and control tooth decay.  However, it is important that your child gets the proper amount because too much fluoride can actually cause problems.  

Fluoride can be found in drinking water, toothpaste, and mouth rinses. Having fluoride in drinking water is a safe and cost effective way to reduce tooth decay.  You can ask your dentist or local public health department if fluoride levels are optimal in your area’s drinking water.  

Toothpaste is another important way to protect teeth.  It is important to teach children to spit out toothpaste rather than swallow it, as swallowing fluoride toothpaste will cause children to get too much fluoride and result in problems.  Fluoridated toothpaste should be used twice daily as a primary preventive procedure.  According to the American Academy of Pediatric dentistry use only a smear of fluoridated toothpaste (left toothbrush) for children less than 2  years of age and a 'pea-size' (right toothbrush) amount of fluoridated toothpaste for children 2-5 to decrease the risk of fluorosis (or too much fluoride).

To learn more about the right amount of fluoride for your child ask your dentist.