Cavity Prevention During Halloween

Halloween Treats

During Halloween children are collecting candy, but what does that mean for their dental health?

Steinbach Toddlers to Teens Paediatric Dentist Dr. Mel McManus says he feels it's impractical to not let children eat any candy, however to keep 'everything in moderation' in mind. Dr. McManus notes to have fun at Halloween but remember cavity prevention and make sure those practices are still being applied.

“Just make sure after the treats are done that night and each subsequent night, good brushing and flossing is happening. Some of the treats are very sticky and have the ability to stick around for very long periods of time which the bacteria or 'bugs' in your mouth love. So you got to get rid of that food source for the bacteria. So, good flossing, good brushing and then you have very little to worry about with Halloween.”

Dr. Mel McManus Dr. McManus explains children under the age of four are not able to brush their teeth properly by themselves and require an parent. Then between the ages of four and seven the child can brush their own teeth, but parents should still be touching-up spots afterwards and helping to floss.

There are different kinds of candies and Dr. McManus says some are less harmful to your teeth than others due to the duration at which they are consumed. Dr. McManus explains candies like chocolate melt quickly and are easily washed off teeth by the saliva however toffy and caramels can stick to the teeth for long periods of time and hard candies can get crushed into the grooves of molars or in between the teeth.

Dr. McManus notes just like it's better to drink a sugary drink in one sitting instead of sipping it throughout the day, it's also better to eat candy at one time versus eating smaller pieces at different times throughout the day.

“If you're constantly grabbing at a candy, constantly throughout the day the acidity of your mouth is very low, you have a very acidic mouth. Therefore, you're going to get more cavities because the acids dissolve away teeth (which forms cavities). So if you do have candy, maybe once a day so that your mouth isn't constantly in an acidic environment.”

Dr. McManus reinforces brushing and flossing to remove sugar from all tooth surfaces and prevent cavities from developing adding an individual can be excellent at brushing but if they're not flossing the spaces in between the teeth there are areas being missed. He says children and adults alike should visit their dentist every six months for a check-up because if cavities do develop they're easier to restore when caught in the early stages.