Every kid's favorite spooky, sugar-filled holiday is quickly approaching, and the infamous candy mound on your kitchen table is inevitable. But are all candies really that bad for your child's teeth? Thankfully no, if proper brushing and flossing accompany it. We are not going to tell you to cut out candy completely because what fun would that be? However, some precautions need to be taken when it comes to eating candy, especially if your child has had specific dental work performed.
Chocolate is your best friend! I bet you never thought that you would hear that from a dentist. Staying away from the sticky, chewy, or hard candies is a general good rule of thumb to follow. These candies tend to be harder to remove when brushing due to their consistency and how easily they can get stuck in between teeth; plus, if they are sour, then the acidity can cause even more damage to teeth.
Follow these simple steps to reduce the adverse effects that Halloween candy can have on your child's teeth:
1. Sort through your child's candy, removing any of the sticky, gummy, sour candies.
2. Allow your child to pick out a reasonable amount of their favorite chocolatey candy to enjoy.
3. Set a time frame for the candy to be eaten (you shouldn't still have Halloween candy at Christmas).
If your child has had fillings, they must stay away from the sticky or hard candies due to the risk of the filling becoming loose or even being pulled out. If you have questions about a particular sweet treat, do not hesitate to give our office a call at 770-521-8855.
The Bad | The Not So Bad |
Twizzlers Gummy Bears Sour Patch Kids Caramel 100 Grand Candy Corn Skittles Tootsie Rolls Jolly Ranchers Jaw Breakers | M&Ms Hershey bar Reese’s 3 Musketeers Sugar Free Candy Dark Chocolate |
Visit our website at www.thekidstoothdoc.com or give us a call at 770-521- 8855 to learn more about our practice or schedule your new patient appointment. Michael J Leach DDS is located at 4895 Windward Pkwy. Ste 201, Alpharetta, GA 30004.
