Easter Candy and Your Child’s Dental Health
Easter and Halloween are the two biggest holidays that focus on candy and sweets. The sugary treats can wreak havoc on your child’s teeth, especially candies such as jelly beans and sticky candy that sticks in the crevices of tiny teeth. There are alternative ways to celebrate the holiday without going too wild on sugary candy that ends up causing cavities for kids and adults alike.
Candy Doesn’t Cause Cavities
During a recent Easter season, 486.6 million dollars was spent on chocolate Easter bunnies, and 91.3 million dollars was spent on jelly beans. That’s a lot of candy! Believe it or not, the sugar in the candy is not what gives you or your kids cavities. It’s what happens after they eat the sugar.
Some types of bacteria from the sugar form into plaque, which builds a sticky layer on your teeth. The plaque must be removed by daily brushing and flossing your teeth. If not removed, the bacteria (plaque) feeds on sugars, creating acids that destroy tooth enamel and creates cavities in your teeth. Without dental treatment, cavities will go deeper into the layers of the tooth, causing pain and potential tooth loss.
Be Discriminating About the Candy You Buy for The Easter Basket
Stay Away from Sticky or Gummy Candy
It wouldn’t be Easter without Jelly beans, but they are one of the candies that cause cavities. They are notorious for getting stuck in the grooves of your children’s teeth where it’s difficult to brush properly. This can lead to tooth decay if your child doesn’t have good brushing and flossing skills.
Sour Candies
Sour candies are acidic and constant exposure to the acid found in Warheads, Sour Skittles, etc. cause enamel erosion, which can lead to cavities and tooth loss.
Hard Candy
Jawbreakers, lollipops, and jolly ranchers, and hard mints are destructive for your teeth because they don’t dissolve right away. Sucking on this type of candy bathes your teeth in sweetness for a long time, leaving them awash with sugar. This type of candy can also chip or break your tooth because of the hardness of the candy.
Dark Chocolate
Even though dark chocolate contains sugar, it is good for your teeth. It contains a rich source of cocoa which thwarts the growth of the bacteria responsible for plaque buildup.
Take These Precautions to Prevent Cavities
Don’t Eat Candy All Day Long
If your children have an Easter basket full of sweets, let them choose a few pieces, and then set the basket aside. By distributing the candy, your child will not be eating it at will. Eating sweets all day results in your child’s tooth enamel being exposed to cavity-causing acids around the clock.
Rinse Your Mouth After Eating Candy
Although inclined to have your child brush right after eating a sugar laden snack, it can do more harm than good. Tooth enamel is softer while it’s under attack from the acids in your mouth. Waiting 30-60 minutes after eating will give your enamel a chance to re-harden. It’s important to rinse your mouth with water after eating a sweet or acidic treat.
Sugarless Gum Promotes Saliva
Chewing sugarless gum will help your saliva glands neutralize the acids that form in your mouth after eating sweets.
Routine Dental Appointments
Make regular appointments twice a year with Dr. Angela S. Evanson, DDS. She will check for plaque build-up that causes cavities. Call (720) 409-0008 or contact us online to schedule an appointment.
With a careful approach, you can enjoy some Easter candy, and stay cavity free during this Easter season!
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