Halloween can be one of the most fun holidays, but if you aren’t careful, it can also be a scary time for your child’s dental health. Here are some helpful tips from our Calgary dentist to keep your kids mouth healthy this spooky holiday.
Although sugar may seem harmless, it can have a significant negative impact on the overall and dental health of your child. Calgary dentists often recommend limiting sugar for kids because it can:
- increase their risk of tooth decay
- lead to gum disease
- dissolve the enamel of teeth
- lead to tooth loss
Comprehensive Dentistry Services for Children in Calgary
At Marlborough Dental Centre, our Calgary kids dentists are committed to providing comprehensive dentistry services for your children to ensure their mouth, teeth, and gums stay healthy for many years.
From teeth cleanings to regular checkups and Invisalign, we have the expertise and experience to meet your entire family’s oral healthcare needs.
What are the Worst Halloween Treats For Dental Health?
October is an exciting month because everyone is gearing up for the spookiest night of the year. However, while candy is definitely one of the best parts of Halloween, you must be cautious when you and your children are consuming it.
According to most kids dentists, here are the worst Halloween treats for your teeth:
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Sticky sweets. This includes candy corn, caramels, jelly beans, marshmallows, and liquorice. Because they require a lot of chewing, the sugar will not only coat the chewing surfaces of your molars but affect the fronts and backs of teeth as well.
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Lollipops. Because it takes a long time to finish a lollipop, your teeth will be in contact with sugar for at least 20 minutes. If there is a bubblegum inside the lollipop, the exposure can be even longer.
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Extra crunchy sweets. These are things such as jawbreakers, hard candy, and popcorn balls. Not only do they increase your child’s risk of tooth decay, but also have the potential to chip or crack their teeth.
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Popcorn kernels can also get stuck between the teeth and cause gum irritation.
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Sour candies are especially harmful due to their extra acidity.
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Sticky goo from popcorn balls will adhere to your child’s teeth.
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So what treats should you give your children?
While there may be some candy that is definitely not good for your child’s oral health, the good news is that there are some which are more teeth-friendly. This includes:
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Plain chocolate. Milk chocolate melts very quickly in the mouth so your teeth won’t be in contact with sugar for long. Dark chocolate is even better because it has less sugar. In addition:
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Naturally occurring substances in dark chocolate can stop tooth decay.
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A stimulate in chocolate has even been shown to strengthen tooth enamel.
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Sugar-free candy or gum. There are some chocolates that are sugar-free so they pose no threat to your child’s teeth. In addition, sugar-free gum gets saliva flowing and helps remove any unwanted debris from your teeth.
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Fresh fruit. If you are taking Halloween treats to your child’s class at school, you may want to consider fresh fruit. Pack grapes into individual serving bags or hand out clementines, which can look like mini-pumpkins.
3 Tips From Our Kids Dentist About Eating Candy
While you can try to limit the number of sweets your child eats this Halloween, preventing them from having anything sugary is impossible. To prevent the damaging effects of candy, follow these helpful tips:
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Eat the candy in one sitting. Instead of picking a piece of chocolate every time you pass the candy bowl, eat 2-3 in the same sitting. That way you limit the number of times when your teeth are covered in sugar.
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Pair the candy with foods that are healthy. Try pair the candy with healthy snacks such as carrots or apples. This will increase your saliva production to wash away the candy and the fibrous texture helps scrub away bacteria and bits of sweets from the teeth.
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Drink water. If you are eating sweets but don’t have access to a toothbrush, drink water after eating candy to help wash away the sugar and acids.
Call Today
To find out more about how our dentists can help keep your child’s teeth and gums healthy with regular checkups and teeth cleanings, contact our Calgary dental clinic today at 403-248-2066 or fill in our online contact form.
