The pumpkins are carved, the candy bowls filled, and little ghosts and ghouls will be stopping door-to-door to get their fill of free sweets. Before your child winds up at the pediatric dentist with a toothache, take into account some simple pointers you can follow to keep their oral health in optimal shape. When partaking in those treats, remember these top dental do’s and don’ts to take care of your child’s teeth.

Do:

Eat candy after a meal.

When you eat a meal, like lunch or dinner, your body produces more saliva to help digest the food. If your child eats candy after their meal, this extra saliva can also help wash away more of the sugar from their teeth, which makes them easier to clean.

Brush and floss after eating candy.

Another important way to keep your pediatric dentist and teeth happy after eating candy is by brushing and flossing. It can be tempting to skip this, especially if they simply ate a fun-size candy bar, but chocolate, peanuts, and chewy sweets can easily get stuck between teeth and become more difficult to remove the longer you wait.

Don’t:

Eat hard or super sticky sweets.

Candies like caramel, taffy, and jawbreakers may taste delicious, but they are the most likely to damage your child’s teeth. Chewy candy gets stuck in the crevices of the teeth and can be difficult to remove, leading to cavities. Additionally, hard candy is more likely to fracture or break a tooth, especially if you try to chomp on it too soon. Remember to talk to the pediatric dentist if you notice damage to your child’s teeth from any kind of food.

Snack on candy all day.

While candy in small quantities isn’t detrimental to your child’s oral health, it’s loaded with sugar that can cling to teeth and cause the bacteria in the mouth to multiply, which accelerates decay. Snacking on candy all day makes it difficult to keep up with brushing and flossing and makes your child more likely to let that sugar sit on their teeth.

For the best dental care services for families, individuals in Pulaski County, KY, trust the oral health team at Brandi Prather, DMD, PSC. Going to the pediatric dentist can be an overwhelming experience for children who aren’t used to these appointments, which is why the team offers compassionate and comfortable care for young patients. Whether you’re looking for a teeth cleaning after all that Halloween candy or need a new dentist, you can learn more about this practice by visiting them online or calling (606) 679-5437.