trick or teeth
Filed Under Tips & Tricks | October 31, 2011
Knowing our kids will come home tonight clutching big sacks of sugar started us thinking about the wisdom of our current rule of “X number of pieces of Halloween candy a day for as long as it lasts”. So we talked to Dr. Robin Mak of Kits Family Dental for her take on Halloween treats, and a pile more toothsome truths.
Halloween candy
The best way to limit tooth vulnerability is to eat a piece of candy for dessert after a proper meal. Eating candy with other foods can help partially neutralize the acidity of the sugar. It also provides stimulation for continued saliva production, which will naturally remove some of the sugar from the tooth. And, *of course* that meal will be followed by a good tooth brushing.
But one of the things kids love about Halloween loot is eating on their own time. So if you’re negotiating between-meal candy consumption post-Halloween, what approach should you take? In our house we’ve actually moved to an “all you can eat for three days then the rest goes in the garbage” approach. Believe it or not, this approach can actually be better for a kid’s teeth than eating several pieces a day between meals for a few weeks. It has to do with the mouth’s pH balance: Sugar causes the mouth to become more acidic and it takes 2-3 hours to neutralize, during which time the teeth are most vulnerable to developing cavities. So if teeth will be vulnerable anyway (whether four or fourteen pieces of candy are consumed) why not get it over with rather than dragging it out for several weeks? Even milk or water can help neutralize acidity, so keep them drinking during this period of gluttony! And while you’re at it, throw in an extra tooth brushing.
Hands Solo
As soon as kids can hold a toothbrush they’re ready to learn how to brush their own teeth, which encourages participation and independence, but parents should always follow-up with a proper brush until the child is about 8 years old. Younger kids don’t have proper manual dexterity to do a really good job at removing plaque from the teeth surfaces, especially from the back molars where most plaque accumulates.
Going Electric
Power toothbrushes can be really useful to motivate children and when used properly, they do remove more plaque. Many models also come with a timer so that children brush long enough (2 minutes). Often, children’s models are not rechargeable and you can’t change the heads, but if you want something less disposable use an adult’s version with a smaller toothbrush head and soft bristle.
The other 35%
As soon as any baby teeth touch together they need to be flossed once daily because those areas between teeth (approximately 35% of the surface area!) aren’t getting adequately cleaned with brushing alone. That is why baby molars often get cavities. Again, parents should be doing this for their child until they are about 8 years old. Using flossers that have a plastic handle can make it much easier for the parents, especially when the child is very young, because they leave one hand free to hold a wriggly one steady.
“She has my teeth and fingernails, but she has her Father’s eyes…” – a.k.a What to look for:
At our house we always joke that the best thing for our budget would be if the kids got his teeth and my eyes. Orthodontics can be stressful (understatement), which is why we asked Dr. Mak what parents should be looking out for:
- Open Bite – If there’s a gap between the upper and lower teeth even when the child fully bites down, and the upper and lower back teeth touch.
- A deep overbite – When the upper front teeth cover the bottom front teeth more than 50 percent when the child bites down.
- Protruding front teeth – When the front teeth protrude so much that the lips don’t cover the teeth at rest.
- Early loss of a baby molar, due to an accident or tooth decay – Usually a dentist will insert a space maintainer to allow room for the adult tooth to erupt into place.
If you have concerns talk to your dentist. A good time to get an orthodontic consult is when kids turn 8-10 years old, since treatment at this age can often successfully manipulate the jaw and correct problems.
In the meantime, have you set your family’s Halloween candy policy this year?
Yo Mama, keep ‘em brushing, keep ‘em safe. Happy Halloween!
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