We all know that the holidays come with family fun, magical memories, and a host of sweet treats that probably aren’t the best for the health and well being of our teeth. It’s the latter that we have to indulge in with caution. While we’re not quite sure that our children’s heads are dancing with thoughts of sugar plums (frankly, we aren’t even sure what one is), they most certainly will be filled with thoughts of tasty cookies, candies, and sweets at this time if your children are anything like ours. Of course, you don’t need to completely eliminate your child’s intake of sugar at this special time, but there are ways to keep your little one’s teeth and gums healthy and minimize damage to their dental health.
Most desserts have one thing in common: loads sugar! Naturally occurring bacteria in the mouth feed on sugar and create a byproduct of acid, which eats away at tooth enamel leading to tooth decay and cavities. The more we expose our teeth to sugar, the greater the risk of tooth decay and dental problems. Sticky, hard candy such as candy canes can be the worst because they are very brittle and we tend to bite through them too soon, which can fracture teeth. Additionally, the sticky quality of candy can prolong the exposure of sugar to the enamel surface and increase the likelihood of damage. Also, candy such as lollipops that takes a while to consume can prolong exposure.
The best way to prevent tooth decay any time of year is to be sure your children are brushing at least twice a day and flossing or using a waterpik at least once a day. Rinsing can also be an important part of the routine. If it is not possible to brush the teeth after consuming these types of foods, we offer the suggestion that your children rinse their mouth with water after they eat. Sugar free gum for our non-braces patients provides the same protective effect by manually disrupting sugar on the teeth and increasing saliva flow. Eating non-sugary foods after consuming sugary ones can also help to neutralize acid in the mouth.
Also, be sure to keep your dental appointments. If your child has time off during school holidays, this is a great time to schedule those visits but please call us quickly as our holiday appointments book up very fast.
If you need any other tips on keeping your child’s mouth healthy during the holiday season, feel free to ask us!
Our entire staff wishes you and your family a very happy and healthy holiday season!
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 have specialized in pediatric dentistry and orthodontics since 1968. Our family-friendly and newly renovated 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 and are proud to be Preferred Providers of Invisalign and Invisalign Teen services. The ability to treat all patients with compassion and individuality, including those that may have special needs reaches beyond our facility, which has treatment rooms available for children who require additional privacy and customized care options. We pioneered valued hospital affiliations to allow dental services to be performed at DMC Children’s Hospital and St. John Macomb Hospital, when appropriate or necessary, and our specialists are also proud to be on staff at Henry Ford and Beaumont hospitals.
