TRICKS TO BEAT TOP TOOTH PROBLEMS FOR TRICK-OR-TREATERS 

PARSIPPANY, NJ (October 2004) – The seasonal warnings about Halloween and the effects of too much candy on trick-or-treaters' teeth have already begun. But it's not all doom and gloom this season. There are simple solutions to warding off the effects of some of the worst candy offenders to oral health, and all it takes is a little parental supervision and common-sense moderation.

"Halloween can be fun, but there are things parents should do to prevent tooth decay in their children," said Dr. Scott Navarro, dental director, Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey (Delta Dental).

According to Dr. Navarro, hard candies, sticky candies and bubble gum often create the most problems for kids' teeth. They simply stay in the mouth longer than other candies, exposing the teeth to the number-one cause of tooth decay: sugar.

Problem: Hard candy like suckers and jawbreakers dissolve slowly, coating the teeth with sugar for prolonged periods of time.
Solution: Have your child drink water or milk after consuming hard candy. Both liquids help rinse sugar away from teeth until there is time for proper brushing. Milk also contains anti-cavity properties that help counteract the harmful effects of sugar on teeth. Also consider serving your child a piece of cheese afterward. Cheese has been shown to protect teeth against cavity-causing acids.

Problem: Sticky candy like caramels and taffy can be harmful to dental work (especially braces, retainers and fillings). These sticky sweets adhere to teeth and can get trapped between dental work, making it harder to brush the sugar away.
Solution: Try to encourage eating treats that melt quickly in the mouth, such as plain chocolate pieces. They aren't as hazardous to dental work and are easier to brush away. Also, munching on crisp fruits and vegetables after consuming sticky candy helps clean the teeth of sugary residue.

Problem: Regular bubble gum circulates cavity-causing sugars throughout the mouth and teeth and - like sticky candy - can be harmful to dental work.
Solution: If your child insists on chewing gum, give them sugar-free gum. Research shows that sugar-free bubble gum, particularly those containing the sugar substitutes xylitol, can be better for teeth and help reduce tooth decay by weakening acid made from sugars. Chewing gum also increases the amount of saliva you produce, which reduces the build-up of plaque.

"There's nothing wrong with having a little Halloween fun as long as parents are mindful of the amount of sugar their children are consuming," says Navarro. "If kids are on a regular schedule of brushing twice daily, flossing once a day and visiting the dentist for regular checkups, a once-a-year holiday probably won't set them back much."

About Delta Dental
Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey, Inc., is New Jersey’s and Connecticut's leading dental benefits carrier, providing coverage to more than one million people through contracts with employers in New Jersey and Connecticut. The Delta Dental Plan system offers seamless dental benefits administration for employer groups throughout the country and the largest network of credentialed dentists in the nation. For more information visit us on the Web at www.deltadentalnj.com.