Halloween is just around the corner, and no dentist wants
to spook kids or their parents with tales of tooth decay
caused by Halloween candy.
"If a child eats sugary sweets, then goes to bed without
brushing and flossing properly, the effect can be damaging
to young teeth," says Dr. Scott Navarro, dental director,
Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey. "There's nothing wrong with
kids enjoying a few Halloween treats. The trick is to
moderate their intake of sweets and make sure they stick to
their brushing-and-flossing routine."
Here are some fun and creative ways to protect your child's
smile and encourage good dental care habits this Halloween.
* Serve a healthy supper. A good meal before
trick-or-treating leaves less room for sugary sweets.
* Set up a candy "bank." Allow your child four or five
pieces of candy, then store the rest in a sealed container
(freeze chocolates and candy bars). Establish times when the
"bank" will be open for withdrawals over the next month. If
possible, allow candy to be eaten only at specific times and
make sure that children brush afterward.
* Offer tooth-friendly fare to trick-or-treaters.
Consider sugar-free treats or travel sizes of toothpaste and
dental floss. Just remember that although treats like dried
fruit might be more nutritious than gummy candy, both hold
decay-producing acid against teeth for longer periods of
time than other snacks.
* Make sure candy is age-appropriate. Don't give children
ages five and under jawbreakers or hard candies. These can
chip teeth or cause choking.
* Encourage kids to drink water throughout the day. This
is important especially after eating sweets. It will help
rinse sugar away from teeth until there is time for proper
brushing.
* Brush before bedtime. Offer your child a new, brightly
colored toothbrush as a final Halloween treat. Insist on a
good brush before bedtime.
Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey, Inc. is New Jersey's and
Connecticut's leading dental benefits carrier, providing
coverage to more than one million people through contracts
with employers in New Jersey and Connecticut. The Delta
Dental Plan system is a national network of independently
operated, not-for-profit dental service corporations
specializing in providing dental benefits programs for
employee groups throughout the country. For more information
visit us on the web at www.deltadentalnj.com
Source: Delta Dental Plans Association
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