Current Location: Home > Trick Or Treat
April 28, 2024

TRICKS TO BEAT TOP TOOTH PROBLEMS
FOR TRICK-OR-TREATERS

September 13, 2004, LISLE, IL -  The seasonal warnings about Halloween and the effects of too much candy on trick-or-treaters teeth have already begun.  But it's not all doom and gloom this season.  There are some simple solutions to warding off the effects of some of the worst candy offenders to oral health, and all it takes is a little parental supervision and common-sense moderation.

"Halloween can be fun, but there are things parents should do to prevent tooth decay in their children," said Dr. Katina Morelli, D.D.S., dental director for Delta Dental Plan of Illinois.

According to Dr. Morelli, hard candies, sticky candies and bubble gum often create the most problems for kids' teeth. They simply stay in the mouth longer than other candies, exposing the teeth to the number-one cause of tooth decay: sugar.  Below are some potential problems with candy and actions parents can take.

Problem: Hard candy like suckers and jawbreakers dissolve slowly, coating the teeth with sugar for prolonged periods of time.

Solution: Have your child drink water or milk after consuming hard candy. Both liquids help rinse sugar away from teeth until there is time for proper brushing. Milk also contains anti-cavity properties that help counteract the harmful effects of sugar on teeth. Also consider serving your child a piece of cheese afterward. Cheese has been shown to protect teeth against cavity-causing acids.

Problem: Sticky candy like caramels and taffy can be harmful to dental work (especially braces, retainers, and fillings). These sticky sweets adhere to teeth and can get trapped between dental work, making it harder to brush the sugar away.

Solution: Try to encourage eating treats that melt quickly in the mouth, such as plain chocolate pieces. They aren't as hazardous to dental work and are easier to brush away. Also, munching on crisp fruits and vegetables after consuming sticky candy helps clean the teeth of sugary residue.

Problem: Regular bubble gum circulates cavity-causing sugars throughout the mouth and teeth and - like sticky candy - can be harmful to dental work.

Solution: If your child insists on chewing gum, give them sugar-free gum. Research shows that sugar-free bubble gum, particularly those containing the sugar substitutes xylitol, can be better for teeth and help reduce tooth decay by weakening acid made from sugars. Chewing gum also increases the amount of saliva you produce which reduces the build-up of plaque.

"There's nothing wrong with having a little Halloween fun as long as parents are mindful of the amount of sugar their children are consuming," says Morelli.  "If kids are on a regular schedule of brushing twice daily, flossing once a day and visiting the dentist for regular checkups, a once-a-year holiday probably won't set them back much." 

Delta Dental Plan of Illinois (DDPIL) is a not-for-profit dental service corporation specializing in providing comprehensive, easy-to-use and cost-effective benefits to over one million employees and family members in more than 3,000 employee groups throughout Illinois.  Based in Lisle, Ill., DDPIL offers an array of extensive nationwide network-based managed fee-for-service, PPO and dental HMO plans.

###