Healthy Habits - Protect Teeth from halloween Candy Treats

Minneapolis dentist Dr. W. Craig Noblett from the American Association of Endodontists and Director, Division of Endodontics, University of Minnesota School of Dentistry provides 5 tips to protect kid's teeth from Halloween candy consumption.  

 

5 TRICKS TO PROTECT TEETH FROM HALLOWEEN CANDY TREATS

 

• Eat Candy After Meals - Saliva production increases during meals and helps neutralize acids.

 

• Drink Water Immediately After Consuming Sweets – It helps wash away sugary food particles.

 

• Wait 30 Minutes Before Brushing - Wait at least 30 minutes to brush your teeth after eating candy or food: Brushing immediately after consuming something acidic can damage the tooth's enamel layer. Waiting about 30 minutes before brushing allows tooth enamel to remineralize and build itself back up.

 

• Know What Candy to Avoid - Candies that are particularly harmful to teeth include hard candies, sticky candies, and sour candies. They are especially problematic for those who wear braces, as they can break or loosen the brackets and wires.

• Sour candies are especially damaging due to their high acidity, which can erode enamel and make teeth more susceptible to cavities.
• Hard candies can crack or chip teeth if bitten down too forcefully which often causes significant pain and may lead to infection. The infection can worsen without prompt treatment, such as a root canal, potentially leading to tooth loss. Endodontists specialize in saving teeth and are experts in treating cracked or chipped teeth and have two+ years of training beyond dental school.
• Sticky candies cling to the teeth, leading to prolonged sugar exposure and increased risk of decay.

 

• Use Halloween as a Teaching Opportunity – Halloween is the perfect time to reinforce why the sugar in candy and other sources such as soda and juice are harmful to your teeth if you don’t take proper care after consumption. Using kid-friendly terms like “sugar bugs” as opposed to bacteria or acid. Simple terms are easier for kids to understand. These lessons will last long after the annual candy holiday.

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BIO: W. Craig Noblett, D.D.S., M.S., American Association of Endodontists and Director, Division of Endodontics, University of Minnesota School of Dentistry

Dr. Craig Noblett received his dental degree from UCLA School of Dentistry and his Master’s and Certificate in Endodontics from the University of Iowa. He has also served as assistant director of the GPR program at Northwestern Memorial Hospital/Northwestern University School of Medicine in Chicago. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Endodontics, a Fellow of the American College of Dentists and the International College of Dentists. He has chaired several committees for the American Association of Endodontists and is a past president of the Northern California Academy of Endodontics. Noblett has also served six years as a Director of the American Board of Endodontics including two years as president of the ABE. He is also currently Director, Division of Endodontics, University of Minnesota School of Dentistry.

About the American Association of Endodontists

The AAE is headquartered in Chicago and represents more than 8,000 members worldwide. Endodontics is one of 12 dental specialties formally recognized by the American Dental Association. The AAE, founded in 1943, is dedicated to excellence in the art and science of endodontics and to the highest standard of patient care. The Association inspires its members to pursue professional advancement and personal fulfillment through education, research, advocacy, leadership, communication and service. For more information about the AAE, visit the Association’s website at aae.org. For more patient-focused information, visit aae.org/patients.