The Scary Tooth

 The Surgeon General calls tooth decay as being the single most common chronic disease of childhood, five times more common than asthma and seven times more common than hay fever. Over 16 million U.S. children have untreated tooth decay. Forty-two percent of children ages eight to 13 say they’re worried about getting cavities from eating too much of their Halloween candy.  The average American consumes about 24 pounds of candy a year. For children the largest amount is consumed on or following Halloween.
Every year more than 41 million kids hit the streets to enjoy trick-or-treating and they have one thing on their minds – candy! This Halloween, don’t deny your kids the Halloween experience of pigging out on their candy the following day, but instead; teach them healthy ways to still consume treats while keeping their teeth cavity free! I recommend allowing them to pick out a few pieces of candy for the day to avoid sugar overload! We all know kids could eat their entire bag of Halloween candy in one day. Teach them healthy oral hygiene habits following candy consumption. If they have a toothbrush nearby, it’s best to brush following any candy, soda or juice consumption. If your child is at school or a friend’s house and does not have the luxury of brushing, it’s best to at least rinse their mouth out with water so the sugar is not sitting on their teeth. As you can see, Halloween is quite the occasion but with all of the sugary treats, Dr. Rosen recommends that you consume your goodies in moderation, and brush your teeth thoroughly to fight those scary cavities.
Here are some helpful tips to keep yours and your children’s teeth healthy this Halloween:
1. Avoid hard candies: unless they’re sugar free! You have a higher risk of getting cavities while sucking on candies for a long period of time.
2. Chew gum that has the ADA seal: Increased saliva helps neutralize the acid produced by dental bacteria. Trident is a great choice!
3. Rinse mouth with water immediately following any sugary treat.
4. Brush twice a day.
5. Lastly, visit your dental hygienist at least twice a year for a professional cleaning!
For more information, please call Kimberly A. Rosen, DDS at 661-255-2545.