Charlotte County Florida Weekly

Don’t be spooked by cavities this Halloween

FLORIDA SOUTHWESTERN
STATE COLLEGE


 

 

With the arrival of fall, Halloween is right around the corner. Children will dress up as their favorite character or scary creature and head out trick-or-treating with the ultimate goal of collecting the largest sack of candy possible. Every parent knows all too well that this is followed by days and even weeks of sugar overload, wreaking havoc on our children’s oral health and greatly increasing their risk for tooth decay. As responsible parents, we are faced with the balancing act of managing the large volume of candy intake while still allowing our children to enjoy the “fruits” of their labor.

With this in mind, it’s important to remember that how and when our children consume all this sugar plays a significant role in the potential damage it may cause. Each time we treat ourselves to a dose of candy, whether large or small, we provide the necessary fuel for cavity-causing bacteria to get to work. In other words, how frequently we ingest the candy plays just as large a role in the risk of tooth decay as does how much candy we eat. For example, if our child is going to eat a candy bar, it’s best to do so all at once, and preferably following a meal. This way, the cavity causing bacteria living on our teeth only get fed one time for that entire candy bar, as compared to nibbling on it a little at a time over a few hours. Ingesting the sugar right after a meal feeds the bad tooth bacteria at a time when they are already satiated and not quite as effective in producing enamel destroying acids. From a nutrition standpoint, consuming candy following a meal buffers some of the untoward effects of the high sugar content. Its entry speed into the bloodstream is more gradual as it slowed down by the presence of food in the stomach, preventing unwanted blood sugar spikes.

LOGRIPPO

LOGRIPPO

Of course, nothing replaces thorough brushing and flossing. This not only removes the sticky sugary remains of the candy from the teeth, but more importantly, it helps remove the bacteria (biofilm) that is present on the tooth enamel that feed off the sugar and damage the tooth. Simply put, if the bacteria isn’t present, it cannot cause damage, even in the presence of a little sugar.

Talking with your children prior to Halloween and setting some ground rules as to how and when the candy can be enjoyed may help prevent unrealistic expectations. If the amount of candy collected is just too large, consider making a trade with your child. Often children are willing to trade a portion of their candy for a small amount of money, a new toy, or even getting to do something fun such as going to a movie.

Most importantly of all, have a happy and safe Halloween. ¦

— Dr. Philip LoGrippo is a dental hygiene professor at Florida SouthWestern State College.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *