As Halloween and National Orthodontic Health Month approach, Margaret Mitchell, DDS, owner of Chicago-based Mitchell Dental Spa, offers orthodontic patients and their parents some tooth-protecting tips.
Mitchell advises parents to have children brush as soon as possible after eating candy, minimizing the impact of the candy on the teeth. If brushing is not possible, Mitchell recommends that children either consume the candy with a meal (so that the increased saliva produced while eating will help wash the candy off the teeth) or rinse the mouth with water.
In addition, children can chew sugarless gum, especially xylitol gums that help control tooth decay-causing bacteria. Mitchell also advises eating the candy in one sitting to decrease the amount of time it is in contact with the teeth.
Prior to Halloween, Mitchell recommends that children visit their dentist to have sealants put into their teeth grooves to protect tooth enamel against corrosion caused by excess sugar.
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