{"id":410,"date":"2022-10-13T12:19:31","date_gmt":"2022-10-13T12:19:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vanderbrookdds.com\/blog\/?p=410"},"modified":"2022-11-03T12:19:43","modified_gmt":"2022-11-03T12:19:43","slug":"how-to-prevent-cavities-during-halloween","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vanderbrookdds.com\/blog\/how-to-prevent-cavities-during-halloween\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Tips for Keeping Your Child\u2019s Smile Decay-Free This Halloween"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Filled with candy-filled activities, \u201cspooky season\u201d is basically \u201csugar season\u201d for children and adults alike. But did you know that the average kid consumes three cups of sugar on Halloween? So, it\u2019s not hard to see why there is a spike in tooth decay around this time of year. The good news is that you can use the following tips to help prevent cavities<\/a> during Halloween.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Tip #1: Be Choosey About Candy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Of course, any sugar-filled treat is far from tooth-friendly. However, there are some candies that are worse than others. For example, sticky taffy and caramel can cling to your child\u2019s teeth for hours on end. Similarly, particularly hard ones, like jawbreakers, can quickly result in a chip, crack, or fracture that requires a visit to their emergency dentist. So, encourage your child to indulge in dark chocolate, Reese\u2019s Peanut Butter Cups, KitKats, and other mostly chocolate treats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tip #2: Keep Other Sugary Foods and Drinks to a Minimum<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While it\u2019s a good practice year-round, it\u2019s especially important to provide your child with well-balanced, nutrient-dense meals around Halloween. That way, their teeth and gums aren\u2019t constantly being exposed to added sugar throughout the day. Naturally, this extends to their beverages as well. Instead of soda and fruit juices (which are often loaded with sugar) offer sparkling or plain water to quench their thirst.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tip #3: Remember, Timing Matters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Saliva doesn\u2019t just help break down food; it also rinses away food particles, sugar, and other debris from your teeth. Since saliva production is the highest during meals, offer your child a piece or two of candy alongside their lunch or dinner instead of separately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tip #4: Make Sure They Brush Before Bed<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Brushing is an essential pillar of any good oral hygiene routine. So, make sure your child is brushing their teeth at least each morning and evening for a full two minutes each time. If you\u2019re having trouble motivating them to do so, consider getting them a Halloween-themed toothbrush to make the prospect of caring for their smile more exciting!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tip #5: Schedule Their Second Cleaning of 2022<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Has your child already had their second checkup and cleaning of the year? If the answer is \u201cno,\u201d then there is no time like the present to schedule it! These routine appointments allow their dentist to examine their teeth and gums, catch cavities in the early stages, and clean the hard-to-reach areas of their mouth that are sometimes missed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although cavities are quite common during this time of year, don\u2019t get discouraged. With the above tips in mind, you can help keep your family\u2019s smiles decay-free this spooky season!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the Author<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It was actually Dr. Drew Vanderbrook<\/a>\u2019s pediatric dentist that inspired him to pursue a career in dentistry! To this day, he remembers how comfortable he felt at his dental appointments, and he aims to provide the same positive experience to growing smiles in and around Dallas. It hasn\u2019t gone unnoticed either \u2013 he was given the New Dentist of the Year award by the Dallas County Dental Society! If you want to learn more about how you can protect your child\u2019s smile from cavities or you would simply like to schedule an appointment, don\u2019t hesitate to visit our website<\/a> or call (214) 821-5200<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Filled with candy-filled activities, \u201cspooky season\u201d is basically \u201csugar season\u201d for children and adults alike. But did you know that the average kid consumes three cups of sugar on Halloween? So, it\u2019s not hard to see why there is a spike in tooth decay around this time of year. The good news is that you […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-410","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vanderbrookdds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/410","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vanderbrookdds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vanderbrookdds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vanderbrookdds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vanderbrookdds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=410"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.vanderbrookdds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/410\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":412,"href":"https:\/\/www.vanderbrookdds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/410\/revisions\/412"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vanderbrookdds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=410"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vanderbrookdds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=410"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vanderbrookdds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=410"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}