Posted October 25, 2011
Halloween treats can be a dentist’s worst nightmare and a headache for parents concerned about their child’s oral hygiene.
There were about 41 million potential trick-or-treaters last year — children ages 5 to 14 — across the United States, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
“Halloween night — depending upon what the kids are consuming — some of the more immediate concerns include pulling loose any dental sealants they may have in their mouths,” said Dr. Jim Nickman, a pediatric dentist.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry knows Halloween can be a frightful time for tiny teeth, from damaged brackets to broken teeth.
“Every time you eat or drink something with sugar in it, you start a 15-minute acid attack. The bacteria takes that sugar and produces acid, which eats away at the enamel and causes the cavity,” said Dr. Rhea Haugseth, AAPD president.
First and foremost, parents need to be aware of and take care of their own oral health. Good eating habits, good oral health practices and seeing the dentist on a regular basis will go a long way toward ensuring children will have good oral health as well, according to the AAPD.
“On Halloween night, it’s definitely fine for kids to have some treats depending upon what’s in their mouths. Obviously, if they have oral appliances … they would want to stay away from sticky candy,” Nickman said.
With all of the sweet treats consumed around Halloween, now is a great time for parents to schedule a pediatric dental appointment for their children, Nickman said. Children should visit the dentist every six months for a checkup to avoid dental problems and keep smiles healthy.
“For younger children, I would recommend parental help with brushing and flossing,” he said. “My general rule of thumb is if kids are not able to tie their shoes or not able to write in cursive yet, a lot of times then they don’t have the manual dexterity to do a really good job of brushing.”
©2011 the St. Cloud Times (St. Cloud, Minn.)
