Inland Empire Biological and Cosmetic Dentist Tips on Protecting your Children’s teeth from Halloween Treats

As children all over our country prepare for a night of costumes and candy one thing looms on the mind of parents ” how do I protect my child’s teeth?”  The over-indulgence of these sweet treats is not only a concern for our children’s health it is also a concern for the wear and tear on their tooth enamel.  Here are a few tips from our Inland Empire Biological and Cosmetic Dental office:

Contrary to popular belief…you should NOT brush your teeth immediately after eating candy or sugary sweets.  It is better for the tooth enamel to rinse with water after consuming candy and wait 20 minutes before brushing.  The rise in acid in the mouth needs to balance out before brushing.  We do not want the toothbrush to “brush in” the acid on the tooth enamel surface.

• Also, the best time (rather appropriate time) for any type of sweet treat consumption is directly following a meal.  The sugars will be digested slower with a meal in hopes to not spike the blood insulin level.

• Candies that are better for your teeth of course are sugar-free and even better are candies containing Xylitol.

• Avoid the sour candies as well as the sticky-gooey candies; as they can get stuck on the tooth surface for an extended amount of time.

• Let them get their fill…..It is better for their health as well as their teeth if on Halloween night they fill up on sweets and then get rid of the rest.  This trick will help your waistline as well!

If you and your family are looking for a dental office that feels like home please contact one of my friendly staff members to schedule an appointment at (951)686-3666.  My Inland Empire Biological and Cosmetic Dental office is located just off of the 91-freeway in Riverside, California.