Halloween is a fun and exciting time of year. Whether you are out trick-or-treating or enjoying a fun costume party, it is a great excuse to eat a lot of candy.

However, did you ever stop to think how all that candy can affect your dental health? Now that Halloween is about to start, Dr. Michels and Dr. Gauquie would like to remind everyone how eating all that candy can affect your oral health.

Also, Michels & Gauquie would like to suggest a few things you can do to allow your children to have an amazing trick-or-treat experience while keeping their teeth healthy.

IS CANDY BAD FOR YOUR TEETH?

At least once in your life, you must have heard that eating candy is bad for your teeth. But is it really true? The short answer is yes. But there’s a good reason for it, and best of all, it’s preventable.

One essential fact to clarify is that all types of sugar can lead to the development of cavities. Unfortunately, the sugar found in most candy contains the highest probability to cause cavities and other diseases.

How are cavities formed?

Regardless of what you might think, what causes the cavities is not the sugar itself. Instead, it’s the acid produced by the bacteria and microbes in your mouth. That acid makes your teeth weaker and softer, creating defects.

What can you do this Halloween season to prevent your kids from getting cavities?

As we mentioned, sugar can cause cavities only if you neglect it and don’t have the appropriate dental hygiene. Therefore, we would like to leave you with a few suggestions you can implement at home to prevent it:

• Start strengthening your kid’s dental habits. Make sure they brush their teeth properly, especially after eating all those treats before going to bed.

• Bring water with you at all times. Make your kids drink a lot of it and teach them to rinse their mouth with water if they cannot brush right away. It can help to decrease the sugar effect in their mouths.

• Teach them to eat healthier snacks. Eating delicious food can be a powerful stimulation if it is done right.

• Try to encourage eating sweet food with or after meals. During meals, saliva can cushion the effect of the acids.

Finally, remember to visit Michels & Gauquie at least two times a year for a check-up. Prevention is the best treatment!