As the year’s second most popular holiday quickly approaches, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), the leading authority on children’s oral health, is urging parents and caregivers to be aware of the treats their children consume on October 31st and throughout the Halloween season.
As dentists in the Stratford area, we strive to ensure that your entire family’s teeth are clean as well as healthy. We know that coming to the dentist as a child can be a little overwhelming, which is why we strive to create a relaxing and comforting atmosphere in our dental office. To help your child, as well as yourself, feel more comfortable about going to the dentist, take the time to check out our virtual tour. You can also view our gallery of our dentist office, so you know what to expect when you come to the dentist.
Don’t be tricked, choosing the right treats may help your children steer clear of the Mouth Monsters (also known as tooth decay)—Ginger Bite-Us, Tartar the Terrible and Tooth D.K. Dark chocolates and sugar-free gum are better for the teeth compared to gummies, caramel, sour candy or bubble gum because they are less likely to get stuck in the grooves and crevices of the teeth. If chocolate is the treat of choice, steer your kids toward dark chocolate, which contains antioxidants that can stop bacteria from sticking to teeth, helping to fight gum infections and tooth decay. By avoiding those too-sugary candies, your child will have better oral health.
“Halloween is a fun fall event for children and parents alike,” declared AAPD President Dr. James Nickman. “While it is hard to eliminate candy from the Halloween traditions, parents can help their children make more tooth friendly choices.” Dr. Nickman suggests the following tips:
- Moderation is the primary goal. Treats are called treats for a reason. They should not be consumed on a daily basis because it can be detrimental to your oral as well as your overall health.
- Treats that are not sticky or quickly leave the mouth (i.e., chocolates) are more tooth-friendly.
- Treats that are sticky (i.e., caramels, fruit snacks) are more likely to stay attached to the teeth and provide fuel to the harmful bacteria in your child’s mouth.
- Screen the Halloween treats that your child collects and help them make more tooth-healthy choices to keep them protected from cavities and other oral issues.
- Allow your child to eat the screened treats after returning from trick-or-treating and then send the remaining candy to the “Halloween Fairy” to remove the candy from the house.
- Make sure that you brush your child’s teeth after eating their treats and before they head to bed.
- Suggested tooth-healthy treats include microwave popcorn and cheese sticks.
- Remember, non-candy options like stickers, pencils and small trinkets like temporary tattoos and glow-sticks are great alternatives.
We strongly encourage you to take your children to the dentist twice a year to ensure their oral health is up to par. In addition to kids dentistry at Coventry Dental Care we also do preventative, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry. For further information, take the time to schedule an appointment with one of our dentists.
SOURCE: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/7775052-aapd-mouth-monsters-halloween/