Tips from a Family Dentist in Leawood: Protecting Your Children’s Teeth This Halloween
This Halloween make sure to save yourself a trip to a family dentist in Leawood by following some amazing tips. Although it is well known that eating a lot of sugar can cause tooth decay, sugar is not the direct cause of cavities. This information may surprise you.
Plaque is a sticky substance that accumulates on the surface of teeth due to certain bacteria in the mouth. Plaque converts sugar from sugary meals and beverages into acids that can damage your teeth for up to 20 minutes! Cavities may develop as a result of these attacks wearing down the tooth enamel over time.
There will undoubtedly be sweets all around you and your family as Halloween and the holiday season draw near. It’s critical to realize that the duration for which sugar remains on your teeth determines your risk of needing cavity treatment in Leawood, not the amount of sugar you consume.
Halloween is typically a time to indulge in sweets and junk food that are bad for your teeth. Kids are usually really excited about the delicious candy and the adventure of going door to door to get it.
At Starting Point Dental & Orthodontics, a family dentist in Leawood we know that sweet treats aren’t the best for your child’s teeth, but there are ways to protect them. Here are the top ways to protect your child’s teeth this Halloween season.
Family Dentist in Leawood: Pick Your Candy Wisely
If you ask a family dentist in Leawood if candy is bad for your child’s teeth, they’ll likely say, “Yes, and some candy is much worse than others.” For example, candies that are sticky and cling to the surface of the teeth are the worst for cavity treatment in Leawood. Your saliva is supposed to wash away pieces of food that are caught in-between or stuck to teeth. However, when candy is sticky it is much more difficult to remove. If a sticky food remains on a tooth, the surface and enamel will begin to break down.
Another bad choice for candy is a hard candy that causes pressure on teeth. Biting down on hard foods could potentially crack or break a child’s tooth. If you ask your family dentist in Leawood which candy has a low risk of teeth damage for children, they will likely tell you a plain chocolate candy bar. Chocolate tends to wash off the teeth much more easily than other candies.
Family Dentist in Leawood: Drink Plenty of Water
A family dentist in Leawood suggests that water is not only good for your body, but it’s good for your teeth. Water washes away any sugar or chewy pieces of food and candy that can get wedged between teeth while chewing. If you notice your child is eating candy, offer water and have them swish it around when they are finished. If you are near your home, have your child brush their teeth immediately after eating candy or sugary drinks.
Family Dentist in Leawood: Set Limits on How Much and When
Many children, when they go trick or treating, bring home pounds and pounds of candy. This is not only unhealthy for their teeth but also for their bodies. Set limits on how much candy you keep and donate the rest. There are many options such as donating candy to send to troops overseas. Also, some family dentists in Leawood might allow your child to exchange candy for a prize during their next dental cleaning.
Family Dentist in Leawood: Hand Out Non-Candy Items on Halloween Night
If you are expecting trick or treaters, do other parents a favor and pick a non-candy item to hand out to children. There are so many options, such as special pens, pencils, stickers, spider rings, little trinkets, and gadgets, that are all fun to play with. These can all protect children from needing cavity treatment in Leawood due to consuming excess candy that can cause damage to their teeth.
Here are some tips to help prevent cavities in your teeth while still enjoying sugary treats:
- Drink Water: Drink a glass of water after consuming sugary snacks to help wash away any sugary residue that may have remained on your teeth. This will stop plaque from converting these sugars into the acid that breaks down enamel.
- Consume desserts after a meal: After a meal, a lot of saliva is left in the mouth. Saliva can function similarly to a glass of fresh water by washing away any residual sugars on teeth, so you won’t need cavity treatment in Leawood though it isn’t as efficient as that method.
- Steer clear of gummy and sticky candies: Long-term chewing times and things that can get stuck in your teeth increase the amount of time sugar spends in your mouth. Consider solid chocolates or other quick-to-eat treats in its place.
- Treats that are too sour: It is actually advisable to wait about half an hour after consuming sour candies before brushing. Acid content in sour candies is often high, and brushing your teeth afterward will only help the acid spread, assisting the plaque in eroding the enamel.
- Remain sugar-free: Eating sugar-free candies is the best way to prevent the harm that sugar can cause. By depriving plaque of its sugar source and preventing it from producing the acids that damage teeth, this will stop plaque in its tracks.
If you use these easy tips, you can still enjoy your Halloween candy without allowing plaque to convert the sugar into acid that can harm your teeth.
Welcome to Starting Point Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, where we’re more than your average tooth fairies! We’re the architects of stunning smiles that light up Kansas City brighter than a firefly’s glow. If you’re on a quest for a children’s orthodontist in Leawood, kids orthodontist in Leawood, or a teen orthodontist in Leawood, consider your Indiana Jones-style hunt over! We believe orthodontic care should be as unique as your kiddo’s laugh. That’s why we offer a range of treatments from clear Braces in Leawood to ceramic braces and metal Braces. Got a case of crowded chompers or crooked canines? We’re the crooked teeth and crowded teeth orthodontists in Leawood you’ve been searching for.
And guess what? Our Leawood services are as budget friendly as they are top-notch. We accept most dental insurance and offer interest-free payment options. Special discounts? We’ve got those too for our brave military families and those with multiple braces champions. From the cutting-edge Clarity by 3M in Leawood to the ever-popular Invisalign, our team is ready to add some sparkle to your smile. Let’s make Kansas City shine, one smile at a time!
Request an appointment here or call our clinic at 913-491-5044 and let us add some sparkle to your smile!
