Halloween is just around the corner, meaning within a couple of weeks, your little one will have a mountain of their favorite treats in the house, ranging from gummies and caramel to chocolate. When left to their own devices, they’ll likely be tempted to snack on their Halloween candy throughout the day, but this could lead to the development of pesky cavities. Read on for four tips to help your child avoid developing cavities this Halloween.
There’s a Time for Treats
Your child’s sweet tooth may flip on and off throughout the day, but this routine grazing on sugary snacks can increase their risk of developing cavities. It’s less harmful to their smile if they eat several pieces of candy in a short period of time than over multiple hours or throughout the day. That’s because their saliva will have a chance to wash away all of the sugar leftover in their mouth instead of having to work overtime to wash the debris away over the course of several hours.
Taper Down on Sweet Beverages
Does your child love sugary beverages like fruit juice? If they’re used to drinking this during the day, it may be worthwhile to taper down their consumption so long as their Halloween candy stash is around. That’s because the additional sugar could lead to a higher chance of decay. Instead, substitute their go-to drinks with sugar-free flavored or plain water. This will help rinse away food debris and sugar, minimizing how long it lingers within the mouth.
Help Them Stick to Their Oral Hygiene Routine
The excitement of Halloween and the upcoming holiday season may cause your little one to forget how important their basic dental hygiene routine is, and it’ll be up to you as a parent to remind them. Encourage them to brush twice a day, floss daily, and rinse with antibacterial mouthwash once a day. This will minimize plaque buildup and keep the cavities away.
Schedule Their Checkup & Cleaning
One of the most important Halloween cavity prevention tips is to schedule their routine checkup and cleaning with their pediatric dentist. This preventive intervention can tackle any early signs of forming cavities before they have a chance to progress into something more serious, like a tooth infection. It’ll also give you, their parent, peace of mind that the health of their smile is on the right track.
About the Practice
Our practice is led by five experienced, compassionate, and committed pediatric dentists who have specialty training in treating growing smiles. With a commitment to providing comfortable and kid-friendly dentistry, parents are able to relax and rely on our experts to take care of their favorite smile during their visits. For questions or to schedule a checkup and cleaning this fall, visit Brush Pediatric Dentistry’s website or call 630-504-2223.