Keep those healthy smiles after Halloween

As Halloween draws near, your child’s head is 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, though sugar is a well known risk factor, it is just one of the ingredients needed to cause cavities.

So, how are cavities formed? Cavities form 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.

Once we ingest sugar, the environment in our mouths changes immediately, favoring acid and cavity formation for approximately 20 minutes. For example, it is better to drink a soda quickly rather than sipping it throughout the day because by sipping, you are continually bathing your teeth in sugar and acid. And, though 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 very important to ensure good brushing and flossing habits are in place.

To keep that healthy smile and reduce the risk of cavities, teeth should be brushed at least twice daily for no less than two minutes. Flossing should be done at least once a day.

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 (up to 10 years old) enjoy a safe and fun Halloween, bring them by for an annual checkup and cleaning during the 86th Dental Squadron’s “Big Teeth, Little Smiles” clinic Nov. 20 in Bldg. 301 on Ramstein. Sign-ups take place from 8 a.m. to noon, or until all appointments are filled.