Twitter
Facebook
As Halloween draws near, your child’s head is most likely filled with thoughts of ghostly ghouls, creepy costumes and titanic treat bags. The potential risk for candy-coated cavities is the last thing on the minds of your little pirates and princesses. However, while sugar is a well known risk factor, it is just one of the ingredients needed to cause cavities.
So, how are cavities formed? Cavities occur through repeated attacks of acid on the tooth enamel. In order for a cavity to form, there must be four characteristics present: a susceptible tooth surface, cavity forming bacteria, sugar and time. All teeth are susceptible to decay, including teeth that have already had dental work. Once we ingest sugar, the environment in our mouths changes immediately, favoring acid and cavity formation for approximately 20 minutes. This time is extended with repeated snacking.
For example, it is better to drink a soda quickly rather than sipping it throughout the day. Otherwise, you are continually bathing your teeth in sugar and acid. And, while foods like raisins, crackers and low fat chips are not necessarily bad for your body, they do tend to stick to your teeth for longer periods of time. Therefore, it is ever-important to ensure that good brushing and flossing habits are in place.
To keep that healthy smile and reduce the risk for cavities, teeth should be brushed at least twice daily for no less than two minutes. Flossing should be done at least once a day. Remember, children under 8 years old may not have the dexterity to brush or floss effectively and might require some assistance.
An annual dental exam, cleaning, and oral hygiene education are also recommended for the prevention, diagnosis and follow-up of cavities and any other dental conditions.
After your children (ages 0-10) enjoy a safe and fun Halloween, bring them by for an annual checkup and cleaning. The 86th Dental Squadron hosts the Little Teeth – Big Smiles clinic from 8 a.m. to noon Nov. 7 in Bldg. 301 on Ramstein.
