It’s the beginning of the holidays, and every kid’s favorite time of year—Halloween. Break out the plethora of costumes! Us parents love seeing the kiddos in their Halloween costumes, whether it be princesses or monsters. And you know what else Halloween means? Candy. Lots and lots of candy. Your child will get lots of loot from trick-or-treating.
As the parent, you will likely end up with a decent amount of Halloween spoils too. You may be the type of parent that helps your child eat their Halloween candy (hey, they shouldn’t eat it all, anyway!), or you may be the type that buys more Halloween candy than you need for the trick-or-treaters (it’s all about that little stash for later).
But the spoils of the Halloween season mean extra risk of tooth decay. Not only for your kid, but for you too! And the best advice that you’ll ever hear about Halloween candy is: be proactive and safeguard your teeth and your child’s teeth against cavities with dental sealants!
What Are Dental Sealants?
A dental sealant is a clear, thin plastic coating placed on the chewing surfaces of the molars and premolars to stop food, candy, and bacteria from settling into the grooves of your teeth.
Why Are Dental Sealants Used?
When plaque, as well as food (including candy) particles, accumulate in these grooves and the acid produced by the plaque attacks the enamel, tooth decay occurs. Having dental sealants placed shields the chewing surfaces of the back teeth and provides extra protection against decay.
Who Can Benefit From Dental Sealants?
Dental sealant placement is often recommended for children when their premolars and molars grow in—this way, these teeth can be protected from the very start. Yet, you may be surprised to learn that dental sealants can also be used for adults. Your back teeth will benefit from the sealant’s protection from decay-causing acids. However, keep in mind that dental sealants cannot be placed on teeth that already have dental fillings or decay on their chewing surfaces.
Avoid Cavities & Protect Your Teeth From Harm
In addition to getting sealants, Dr. [doctor_name] recommends that you brush right after you eat that Halloween candy. You see, it isn’t the amount of sugar that is the main cavity culprit, it’s the duration that the sugar lingers in your mouth. The longer the sugar sits on your teeth, the higher the chances become of you developing a cavity.
This is why sticky candies, like caramel and taffy, can pose more of a threat. Sticky candies are harder for your saliva to break down, so they can really get stuck in the deep grooves of your teeth (unless you’ve already got those precious sealants!).
You’ll also want to be careful about the hard candy. Biting into something hard can crack or chip your teeth—it’s probably best to try and avoid those all together.
So, don’t let the joys of Halloween destroy your teeth. Instead, safeguard your teeth with sealants in [city], [state], today. We welcome you to contact [practice_name] at [phone] today to learn more about how sealants can help you and your child during the Halloween season. Be proactive and schedule a visit today!
