ENOLA, Pa. (WHTM) – Halloween is this weekend, and that means it’s time for trick-or-treating and lots of candy.
Eating all that candy can quickly lead to problems for your kids’ teeth, but dentists say there are things you can do to prevent the damage.
Dr. Sarah Lorei with Millennium Way Dental Studio in Enola says sugar-free candy or dark chocolate is best for teeth. Candy that dissolves quickly, such as Smarties, is also a good choice. The worst sweets for teeth are sticky candies that sit on the teeth for a while.
Lorei says there are things your kids can do if they eat candy but can’t get to a toothbrush.
“They can help things by maybe drinking a glass of milk,” Lorei said. “Milk has high pH, which helps offset the acidity. Also, just simple rinsing with water afterwards helps as well.”
Chewing sugarless gum when you can’t brush is also a good choice, according to Lorei.
Kids should eat their candy during one sitting and not snack on it throughout the day.
“You want to set aside a time of day, usually after a meal, where they can sit down and eat all their candy, Lorei said. “The longer the teeth are exposed to the sugars, the sticky foods, the longer it sticks to the teeth, the longer the bacteria feeds on it and produces the cavity-causing acids.
Lorei says people should brush their teeth for two minutes and floss daily. You should brush at an angle to clean the sides and between teeth.
