As a parent, there’s nothing that’s spookier or more frightening than the lingering threat of cavities in your child’s fragile and developing mouth. This Halloween, instead of taking unexpected trips to the children’s dentist in Scarborough, you can take precautionary measures to scare off any lingering oral health problems due to an increase in sugar consumption. Read on for five tips for an oral-health-friendly holiday season for your entire family.
Sticky, Gooey, Chewy, The Cavity Trifecta
The length of time that a sweet stays in your little one’s mouth plays a massive role in the development of tooth decay. Some candies, like chocolate, easily melt away and are removed from the teeth by saliva. However, sweets like Laffy Taffy, Sour Punch Straws, and sticky caramels, all attach to teeth and stay there until you forcibly remove them with a toothbrush. This will only increase the risk of cavities. To keep this from happening, moderate how often your little one is munching on gummies and sticky sweets and get them to brush and floss afterward to remove any sugary residue that has attached to their small pearly whites.
Chew ADA-Approved Gum
If you and your child are cravings sweets, try chewing on a piece of sugar-free gum instead. Although this may not be as satisfying as a fun-sized Snickers bar, it does help reduce your risk of developing cavities and increases your saliva production. The more saliva that’s in your mouth, the less likely sugar and carbohydrates will settle on your teeth, welcoming harmful oral bacteria accumulation. It’ll also neutralize any enamel-eroding acid that’s present in your mouth.
Avoid Drinking Beverages With Added Sugar
A study published in October of this year found that 62 percent of the drinks marketed towards children contained added sugars. Although something may be advertised as healthy for your little one, it’s always a good idea to look twice at the nutrition facts. When teeth are constantly exposed to sugars found in beverages on top of Halloween sweets, it significantly increases the risk of dental decay. Instead, keep your household hydrated with fluoridated water to defend everyone’s teeth against oral health problems.
Hard Candies Could Lead To A Dental Emergency
There’s nothing more inconvenient and stressful as having to take care of a dental emergency. An unexpected trip to the dentist for kids in Scarborough can shuffle your day around and cause you a great deal of worry. To avoid this, it’s best to think twice before handing your little one hard candy that could cause them to chip or crack a tooth. These also tend to stay in their mouth for a long period of time and expose their teeth to sugar, increasing the chances of dental decay.
Eating Candy With Meals Instead Of Snacking
Instead of letting your little one snack on candy throughout the day, it’s best to limit their sweet consumption to after meals. This is because their saliva production will be increased, neutralizing enamel-deteriorating acids and rinsing away food particles.
If you’re concerned about the status of your child’s oral health, you can get the peace of mind you need by scheduling their routine checkup and cleaning with their dentist in Scarborough before the holiday season is in full-swing. Getting your family the preventive care they need before your schedule becomes packed with family gatherings and seasonal parties will ensure that everyone has bright and beautiful smiles to show off in your holiday greeting cards this year!
About the Practice
At Bal Dental Centre, we have four highly skilled dentists that have experience working with patients of all ages. Whether someone is visiting us for dentures or to protect small, growing teeth from the looming threat of cavities, we can help! We offer thorough preventive dental care that tackles the small problems before they cause any pain or discomfort, and we use the most advanced dental techniques to make every patients’ experience a comfortable one. For questions or to schedule routine checkups and cleanings for the entire family, visit our website or call 416-267-6789.
