Children's Dental Articles

If your kids are like mine, they're going to come home from trick-or-treating with tons of candy. Even so, Halloween doesn't have to be a scary time for your children's teeth, as long as smart choices are made about the treats your kids eat. Dr. Dean Meier, a board certified Winnipeg Pediatric Dentist at Children's Dental Centre, offers these suggestions to help improve your children's dental care during Halloween. "Frequency of exposure to sweets can be one of the main culprits. Try not to allow children to continually snack on candy. Limit their contact with sweets to once or twice a day, preferably after mealtime. The best time to eat treats are immediately following meals when there is a better flow of saliva to help wash away foods and to dilute sugar", adds Dr. Meier. Sugarless gum is also a good way to help get saliva flowing if your child is away from home and can't brush. In addition, candy should be age appropriate. "Younger children should refrain from hard candies which can chip teeth or cause choking". Dr. Meier notes the worst offenders are the sticky and chewy sweets. "One of the main culprits causing cavities are treats such as toffee, caramels, or jelly beans as they adhere to the tooth surface for a longer period of time".

Halloween is a fun holiday and you shouldn't have to worry about things like tooth decay. By practicing good oral hygiene and using moderation, your kids can have a fun and safe Halloween and still enjoy the candy!

Published in Winnipeg Parent Magazine