Halloween is a fun time for the entire family. Who doesn’t love enjoying a spooky movie or going trick or treating? However, too many sweets could mean a greater risk of tooth decay and aching teeth. In our latest blog, your Houston, TX, dentist will discuss what steps your family can take to limit the risk of toothaches, cavities, and dental infections.

Tooth Decay and Sweets

Consuming too many sweets could lead to a greater risk of cavities in both children and adults. Candy, especially chewy options, leave behind sugar particles on or between the teeth. Bacteria will break down these particles, a process that coats the teeth in a sticky layer of plaque buildup, a buildup that is known to weaken and erode tooth enamel, enabling a cavity to form. Unless treated, cavities could cause teeth to ache or feel sensitive, and may increase the risk of a dental infection. Don’t ignore pain in you or your child’s smile, let us know so we can offer a single visit filling or discuss fluoride treatments and dental sealants.

Preventive Actions

First, try to keep your children from gorging on candy and limit how much they eat each day. Encourage them to follow up their treats with a glass of water to help cleanse the mouth. Every night before going to bed, your children should brush for two minutes and floss thoroughly between the teeth. Children will then need to brush again when they wake up. These actions limit how many sugar particles remain behind for bacteria to consume, lowering the severity of plaque buildup in between your checkup and cleaning visits.

See Us for a Cleaning

During a routine office visit, we will examine the smile and look for the earliest indicators of tooth decay, offering treatment. We will also clean the teeth, removing the plaque buildup from them and lowering the risk of cavities and poor gum health. We can also discuss proper brushing and flossing with your children. Other tips for parents include allowing kids to trade their sweets for a toy or video game or handing out alternatives to candy to neighborhood kids, such as stickers, temporary tattoos, Halloween party favors, crayons, or sealed packages of nuts, trail mix, and crackers. If you have any questions about keeping your family’s smiles bright and healthy during the Halloween season, then contact our team today. We would love to help you enjoy a cavity-free smile!

MMC DENTAL OFFERS CHILDREN’S DENTISTRY

We would like to help your little ones enjoy optimal oral health and avoid painful cavities. To learn more about how we treat poor oral health, then please schedule a consultation with Dr. Michael Chan by calling MMC Dental in Houston, TX, today at (713) 926-8896.