It’s almost that time of year, when millions of children dress up as their favorite ghouls, goblins, characters, and athletes to partake in the celebration of Halloween. Heck, even adults like to celebrate with their favorite costumes as well. But besides the obvious fun that comes along with wearing costumes during this holiday, something else comes to mind when talking about Halloween: candy.
From a young age, we can all remember how fun it was to dress up and carry around an empty pillowcase and go door to door with the hope of scoring some great candy from our neighbors.
Dental experts and parents realize that Halloween is a once-a-year celebration that happens to consist of a lot of sugary and generally unhealthy treats, but experts insist that parents should not deprive their kids of such treats because it could send the wrong message and they may feel alienated. Rather, parents should encourage their children to either only eat a specified amount of candy. Alternatively, they can educate their children on what may be the healthiest of all the treats in their sacks. And, finally, it can also be a great opportunity to reinforce excellent oral health practices in the home by encouraging toothbrushing immediately after consuming such foods.
So, let’s start with the worst kinds of treats: chewy and sticky sweets, sour candies and sugary snacks. Chewy candies have a penchant to get stuck in kids’ teeth, and they then become difficult to remove. Sour candies are high in acidity and break down tooth enamel, while sugar snacks (like candy corn and cookies) contain high amounts of sugar and that leads to tooth decay by giving the cavity causing bugs on the teeth the nutrients they need to thrive – and when they thrive, they secrete acid that breaks down tooth enamel.
The better kinds of treats include sugar-free lollipops, hard candies, dark chocolate and sugar-free gum. Hard candies stimulate saliva and help prevent dry mouth, while sugarless gum also stimulates saliva and dislodges food particles attached to and between the teeth. Dark chocolate has been cited to lower blood pressure and be good for the heart.
It can be difficult for people of all ages to turn down sweets, especially when it’s Halloween celebration time. Having fun is a great idea, but too much of a good thing can lead to problems with your teeth that require a visit to the dentist that may not be as fun!
About Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists of Michigan, the offices of Drs. Delaney, Plunkett, Ralstrom, Makowski, Thanasas, Ker, and Associates
Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists of Michigan has specialized in high-quality pediatric dentistry and orthodontic care since 1968. Our family-friendly office gives patients and families a more comfortable and consistent experience with dentistry from the very beginning. Our pediatric dentists treat children from newborn to 18 years of age while our orthodontists provide care for both children and adults. Our orthodontists are also proud to be recognized as an Invisalign Preferred Providers. Our doctors have the ability to treat all patients, including those with special needs, in our office equipped with treatment rooms available for children who require additional privacy. Valued hospital affiliations allow dental services to be performed at DMC Children’s Hospital when needed.
Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists of Michigan
39400 Garfield Rd., Suite 200
Clinton Township, MI 48038
586-286-0700
www.mychildsteeth.com
