In just a few days kids in our community will be getting their costumes ready and going door-to-door to pick up Halloween treats. Many of these will contain tons of sugar, and will be sticky and chewy, clinging to their teeth and causing cavities! Your Dallas, TX, family dentist not only has tips for protecting little smiles from cavities, but we’re once again hosting a candy buyback program, so we can help save your little one’s smile!
Cavities in Little Smiles
When children consume lots of candy, especially sticky options that are gummy or contain caramel, this allows particles of sugar to become trapped on or between the teeth. As harmful oral bacteria consume these sugar particles, the level of oral acidity in their smiles elevates, and plaque buildup coats the enamel. Over time, this weakens outer enamel to allow tooth decay to form. Children then develop painful toothaches and the risk of infection without treatment. We don’t want your kids to forgo their Halloween fun, but eating sweets in moderation and maintaining good oral hygiene habits, like brushing and flossing, can help lower the risk of cavities.
Candy Buyback
Each year, we offer a candy buyback program just after Halloween. We pay a dollar a pound for your children’s treats, and then donate the sweets to programs like Operation Gratitude. Be sure to keep a close eye on our social media pages and blog to learn more details, such as when to bring in your kids’ candy.
Protecting Little Smiles
To help safeguard their smiles, you can limit them to one to two pieces of candy a day, and consume them just after meals when saliva production is higher, which helps rinse away sugars. Be sure to have your kids follow their treats with a glass of water. You can have them choose a few favorite pieces and sell the rest to us, or let them trade their sweets for a toy or something else they might enjoy.
See Us Soon!
You should consider a post-Halloween checkup and cleaning, so we can watch for signs of developing cavities, and also offer unique preventive treatments, like fluoride varnish and dental sealants to protect children from tooth decay by strengthening enamel and preventing sugary particles from being trapped in the hard-to-reach rear teeth. We will also clean the teeth, removing all harmful plaque and tartar! If you have any questions about our buyback program, or if you want to schedule your child’s checkup appointment, then contact our team today.
Your Dallas, TX, Dentist Protect Little Smiles from Cavities
We want to make sure your kids enjoy Halloween, but do so without putting their smiles at risk for tooth decay. For more information on children’s dentistry, then please schedule a consultation by calling the Viva Dental Family Dentistry office nearest you at (214) 337-7800 (Dallas) or (972) 437-6000 (Richardson).
