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Trick-or-treating can be a nightmare for both parents and dentists. What could be scarier than ghosts and goblins on Halloween? Sugary treats that plague adolescent teeth! While we always encourage our spirited patients to stay away from too much candy, we realize Halloween is a time of year when kids indulge in all kinds of sweets. Here are the top worst Halloween candies that should be avoided this season along with some healthier alternatives.

Taffy – You instantly recognize when your children are eating taffy based on their comical chewing behavior and length of time to finish swallowing before moving on to the next candy. That’s because sticky treats such as taffy and caramel attach themselves to the teeth and are very difficult to remove. Even increased amounts of saliva aren’t enough to wash away the sugary substances that stick to the grooves and crevices between the teeth, which increase the amount of acid formed by bacteria in the mouth. Try to avoid chewy candies like gummy bears, taffy, Tootsie Rolls, and caramel fillings.

Sour candies – These popular Halloween treats have a serious vendetta against your child’s tooth enamel! The amount of acid in sour candies will contribute to an imbalanced PH level in your child’s mouth, which allows the acid in the candy to break down tooth enamel faster.

Cookies/Cake – Not only do these baked treats come in bigger servings than your average candy, but they also contain extremely high amounts of sugar that will settle on your children’s teeth, putting them at risk of tooth decay. It’s probably not a safe idea to accept homemade goods from strangers anyway, but even the packaged goodies should be avoided.

Lollipops – Hard candies such as lollipops are somewhere in the middle when it comes to the amount of damage they cause to adolescent teeth. On one hand, they don’t stick to the teeth as badly as taffy candy. Additionally, lollipops can increase the amount of saliva in the mouth, which helps rinse away the bacteria that produces enamel-eroding acid. However, lollipops take longer to dissolve and therefore stay in your mouth longer, increasing the acidity on your child’s teeth as time goes on.

Tooth-Friendly Alternatives

Sugar-free gum – We highly recommend this as a Halloween treat this year. It contains a natural sweetener, xylitol, that protects against plaque-inducing bacteria. Sugar-free gum is also a good choice after your child eats other sugary candies, because it increases the amount of saliva in the mouth to rinse away bacteria.

Dark Chocolate – chocolate tends not to stick to the teeth as stubbornly as other sticky candies. Plus, the antioxidants in dark chocolate can provide additional health benefits that extend beyond oral health.

Be sure to monitor the amount of sugar your child consumes this Halloween, as moderation is key. Schedule your next appointment at Dentistry for Children and Adolescents to ensure that your children have happy, healthy teeth after all of that trick-or-treating!

For now, feel free to download our FREE eBook on beverages to watch out for and dental care. It will help educate you and your family on the perils of what may be hiding in your own home.

While brushing, flossing and getting teeth cleaned regularly are vital to your child’s dental health, they aren’t the only factors that affect dental hygiene. For instance, there are many foods that can help protect against enamel-damaging plaque and gum disease. If you want to keep your children’s teeth even stronger and healthier, you may want to consider incorporating these foods into their daily dental routine.

1. Milk – While our favorite cookie-dunking beverage contains high amounts of sugar, its health benefits more than make up for it. First, milk has enough calcium to help children develop strong baby and adult teeth, which can prevent tooth loss. Secondly, milk helps protect teeth from the acids in your mouth caused by plaque bacteria. So, downing a glass of milk after eating a handful of Oreos is more than just delicious –it also neutralizes the acids that cause tooth decay.

2. Chewing Gum – To be more specific, sugarless gum. It may seem like gum could not offer any health benefits, but it actually does for your dental hygiene. This is because chewing gum increases the amount of saliva in your mouth, which can rid your child’s teeth of bacteria from other foods. Sugar-free gum also contains Xylitol, a natural sweetener that helps maintain a neutral pH level in the mouth and prevents “acid attacks” caused by bacteria sticking to the teeth.

3. Yogurt – Speaking of bacteria, it’s good to have some good bacteria in the mouth to promote oral health. Yogurt is known to contain protective bacteria that help fight the bad germs between teeth. These good bacteria can prevent bad breath, plaque and gum disease. We recommend buying plain, sugar-free yogurt full of probiotics and proteins for your child.

4. Crunchy Foods – Even the texture of certain foods can affect adolescents’ dental environments. Typically bacteria will settle on the teeth after we eat foods, which is why brushing and flossing are essential to removing these bacteria. However, crunchy fruits and vegetables, such as celery, apples, carrots, and pears can help cleanse the teeth by breaking away plaque build-up.

5. High-Protein Foods – Foods with high levels of protein, such as chicken, eggs, turkey, and cheese contain calcium and phosphorus, which work together to promote re-mineralization of the teeth. When acids produced by plaque bacteria erode tooth enamel, eating these foods can help replace the minerals in your child’s teeth to keep them strong and healthy.

A consistent routine at home will make your child’s next dental appointment even more pleasant. At Dentistry for Children and Adolescents, we are dedicated to equipping parents with the proper tools for keeping kids’ teeth healthy and strong.

For now, feel free to download our FREE eBook on beverages to watch out for and dental care. It will help educate you and your family on the perils of what may be hiding in your own home.

Getting your kids to brush their teeth on a daily basis can be struggle for any parent. Kids of all ages have to be reminded to brush their teeth morning and night.

But parents can make it fun for kids where they want to brush their teeth! This will install a good dental hygiene routine at an early age and save you the chore of reminding your kids on a daily basis. It’s also important for kids to see a model of good, positive behavior from their parents.

It’s important to have the right tools in place for success and remember to stay diligent to keep your child on the right track! A solid brushing routine will help combat tooth decay and emphasize good dental practices into their adult years.

Here are some out-of-the-box ideas to make teeth brushing more fun for your kids!

Let your child pick out their toothbrush or pick one with bright colors or their favorite cartoon characters. Or if they are old enough, buy them an electric toothbrush, which can be more fun for kids. There are toothpastes tailored to children with flavors like strawberry, tooty fruity, bubble mint and many more.

Make brushing their teeth a fun game! Tell kids that they are fighting plaque and cavities every time they brush their teeth or create a story with your kid as a superhero.

Instead of timing your kids to make sure they brush for the correct length of time, sing a song with them. Popular choices include “This is the way we brush our teeth” or the alphabet song. Kids and adults should be brushing their teeth for a full 2 minutes.

Use a reward system with stickers for every day that they remember to brush their teeth without being asked. Once they get to a certain number, give them a little toy or prize.

Encourage kids to make bubbles while they are brushing, which means they are doing a good job. Have a bubble-making contest to add even more fun!

Use a favorite stuffed animal or doll as a model for the correct way to brush. Then, let your kids brush their toy’s teeth.

The easiest and most important way to make it fun for kids is to be patient, supportive and praise them when they are successful. Being encouraging will help those lessons stick with kids and make you both happy!

If you need additional help with your children’s brushing habits or have questions about any dental issues for your child or adolescent, call the professional staff at Dentistry for Children and Adolescents.

Having cavities filled is no fun for kids. But routine oral hygiene is essential to keeping your child’s teeth healthy and preventing potential future cavities. If you install good practices early on in life, those habits will continue as they grow up.

Protecting your child’s teeth is essential and can be accomplished by following these 5 easy tips!

1)  Install a daily routine.

The easiest and most obvious good practice is to maintain a strict daily routine. Kids should brush their teeth at least twice a day and floss once a day.

2)  Avoid snacking

Consistent snacking especially on sweet foods, creates opportunities for cavities. Limit snacking to only healthy foods and try to brush or rinse with water or mouthwash afterward.

3)  Make healthy choices

Choosing fruits that are full of water keeps the mouth hydrated and helps prevent cavities. Also, try to get kids to drink lots of water and avoid soda and sugary juices. Choose juices that are 100 percent fruit because too much acid and sugar are bad for teeth.

Nuts and cheeses are great options because they have ingredients that work to remineralize teeth. Avoid sticky foods like cookies, candy and fruit leather, which can be extremely harmful to teeth.

4)  Don’t share food or drinks

Bacteria that cause cavities can be passed between people. So avoid sharing food and encourage your kids not to share their food with friends.

5)  Visit the pediatric dentist

Bringing your kids to the dentist on a regular basis for teeth cleaning is essential to catching smaller issues before they become cavities. It’s important to find a dental home before their first birthday. Then, try to visit your dentist twice a year.

Also, ask your dentist about dental sealants that can be placed on a child's teeth to prevent decay. The process is simple and can help prohibit future cavities.

Think about choosing Dentistry for Children and Adolescents for your child’s dental home. We will work with your family’s unique needs to ensure every child has the best dental health.