Post-Halloween Dental Care For Toddlers

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Trick-or-Treating and Halloween parties are over and now you've probably got an industrial-sized supply of candy. With all that candy around, it's difficult to explain to a toddler why she can only have one or two pieces a day. All your effort will be well worth it, however, when her teeth are healthy and she still has room for nutritious food. Dentistry Guide Shawn Watson has some ways to set limits on your child's candy consumption so you can manage all that sugary goodness to your toddler's delight and still keep her teeth free of decay. For instance, you might be thinking that letting your her have a piece or two a day between meals is the way to go, but Watson advises against this and for good reason:

"Schedule candy time once a day, preferably with snacks or meals, not in between. It is always best to eat sweets with other foods. The presence of the additional food increases the saliva production in the mouth. Plaque thrives on the acids produced by sugar. This increase in saliva helps to break down the sugar quickly, which in turn decreases the amount of acid produced in the mouth."

Right now is one of those times when dental care is at the forefront of your mind, but good oral hygiene is important every day. Baby teeth are more than just a temporary set of teeth and it's important to take care of them from today until tooth fairy time.

Learn More or Share Your Ideas:

• Video: Create Good Toothbrushing Habits
• Video: Setting Limits on Halloween Candy
• Toothbrusing Tips
• How to Avoid and Break Bad Dental Habits
• How Do You Plan to Manage Your Child's Candy Stash?
• When Did Your Child Get that First Tooth?

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