West Maitland Dentistry Blog

Halloween is quickly approaching and you may be wondering if there is a way to eat candy and still keep your mouth healthy.  According to The Economics Times, the average American consumes 3.4 pounds of candy on Halloween.  That’s a lot of sugar!  This year don’t trick or treat without reading about the best and worst candy for your mouth.

The Bad Treats

Sticky

Sticky candies get stuck in the little grooves in teeth.  These types of candies are harder to remove since the grooves of the teeth are very fine.  Also since they stick to the teeth they stay in the mouth long after the treat is swallowed.  This allows more time for the cavity causing bacteria in your mouth to feed on the sugar.

Hard

Chewing on hard candies can crack your teeth.  Just like sticky candies, sucking on hard candies allows more time for the sugar to hang around your mouth.

Sour Candy

Sour candies tend to contain acidic ingredients.  Too much acid in your mouth can lead to enamel demineralizing or eroding of the enamel.  Also the cavity causing bacteria in your mouth thrive in acidic conditions.

The Good Treats

Xylitol

Xylitol is a type of sugar that the bacteria in your mouth cannot digest.  Chewing on xylitol gum can help stimulate your saliva glands as well as help pick up any sticky pieces of candy or food from the crevices in your molars.

Nuts

Finding candy with nuts can break up the amount of sugar you are eating.  These types of candies also tend to be less sticky and less sugary than the sticky, hard types.  Remember to avoid these though if you have a nut allergy or wear braces.

Dark Chocolate

When sorting through the Halloween candy this year, try to choose dark chocolate over the sticky, hard, sour candies.  Although chocolate does have sugar in it, the consistency of it tends to not last as long in your teeth or get stuck as much in the teeth’s grooves.

Dark chocolate is a great option due to having less sugar and containing polyphenols that help decrease the cavity causing bacteria in your mouth.

The Tricks

If you are eating candy, try eating it with a meal.  Also try to limit snacking on candy throughout the day and opt for eating it in one sitting.

Also, wait 30 minutes before brushing your teeth after eating anything sugary or acidic.  This is because the acid produced by the sugar eating bacteria can start softening your enamel, the hard outer layer of your tooth.  Waiting 30 minutes allows the enamel to harden back and lessens any damage done by brushing.

Instead try drinking a lot of water to get rid of the acid and chew on sugar free gum that is sweetened with xylitol.

If you are more interested in learning about healthier foods check out our previous blog on foods that are good for your mouth.  We hope these best and worst candy list will help make figuring out which treats to eat a lot easier!

Summer is upon us and in the midst of vacations and different schedules dental care is sometimes last on our mind.  We have 5 dental tips for the summer to ensure that your oral health is on track!

Drink Plenty of Water

This may seem like a no brainer but dehydration is common during these hot months.  Dehydration can lead to dry mouth.  Not having enough saliva in your mouth increases your chances of getting a cavity.  For more information about the effects of dry mouth check out the American Dental Association’s website.

Limit Sugary Drinks and Foods

Nothing beats an ice cream cone or popsicle on a hot summer day but make sure to limit sugary or acidic treats.  If eating something sugary try drinking water afterwards to rinse off the sugar.  After eating or drinking anything acidic wait 30 minutes before brushing so that you don’t brush off the weakened enamel. Drinking water, brushing and flossing after a sugary meal decreases chances of developing cavities.

Stick with Your Routine

Another dental summer tip is sticking to your routine. Vacations often disrupt normal day to day routines.  Make sure that you keep your and your children’s oral health routines. This includes brushing twice a day for two minutes, flossing regularly and visiting your dentist routinely.

Protect Your Lips

Part of your oral health is taking care of your lips.  Too much sun exposure can increase your chances of skin cancer.  Decrease your chances of developing skin cancer with the use of a lip balm with sunscreen, avoid the sun and visit your dentist routinely for an oral cancer screening.

Make Your Back to School Appointment

With the busy end to the summer and getting prepared for the beginning of the school year it can be easy to overlook the kids six month check ups.  Be sure to schedule your child’s appointment early to ensure the kids have a clean bill of oral health for the school year.

Follow these dental tips to make sure your mouth remains healthy over the summer!

It’s a Saturday afternoon, your child is playing their team sport and all of a sudden get’s an injury to their face.  Upon further look you notice a tooth knocked out.  What do you do?  Unfortunately injuries to the mouth and teeth are common in children, in fact the American Academy of Pediatrics states 30% of children will experience a dental injury by the age of 14.  Prevention and knowing what to do in these scenarios are key to stopping permanent damage to your little one’s mouth.

What do I do if the tooth knocked out is a baby tooth?

If your child’s baby tooth gets knocked out here are some steps to follow.

• • First find the tooth.  This is to make sure it isn’t in their mouth leading to a choking hazard.
  • Gently place pressure on the gum tissue to stop any bleeding.  
  • DO NOT place the baby tooth back in the mouth as to avoid damage to the permanent tooth that is forming below.
  • If it looks like there was any damage done to the surrounding tissues (gums, cheek, lips, bone) go to the emergency room to rule out any fractures or tooth fragments lodged in the soft tissues.  
  • Make the appointment with your child’s dentist to further evaluate the need for treatment and don’t forget to bring the tooth.  The dentist may take an X-ray to evaluate the extent of the injury.  If the tooth was lost extremely premature then a device to maintain space or for esthetics may be recommended.

What do I do if the tooth knocked out is a permanent tooth?

This is a trickier situation as the permanent tooth can and should be saved.  The sooner the tooth can be placed back in its place, think within 30 minutes, the better chance of that tooth surviving.  

• • First make sure to pick up/touch only the top portion (crown) of the tooth.  This is the part that is usually visible in the mouth.  Avoid touching the root portion of the tooth.
  • Exam the tooth and if there is any debris or dirt on the root then gently rinse with cool water. 
  • DO NOT wipe/scrub the tooth and avoid any soap or cleaner. 
  • Gently reinsert it in the space of the missing tooth, known as the socket.  
  • Have your child slowly bite down on it as you hold it in place with your finger.
  • Let them bite down on paper towels or a washcloth until you can reach your dentist.
  • If you are uncomfortable or your child won’t let you put the tooth back then store the tooth in milk.
  • DO NOT use water to store the tooth.
  • DO NOT use milk substitutes such as almond or oat milk.
  • If you do not have milk available find a container to put the tooth in and spit into it until the tooth is covered with saliva.
  • REMEMBER to keep the tooth moist and prevent it from drying out.

How do I prevent a knocked out tooth

Preventing damage to teeth is important. Here are some tips to help your child avoid an injury:

• • Do NOT open objects such as bottles, plastic or use your teeth to cut string/fishing lines. 
  • Avoid rough housing or activities with high risks of falling, such as trampolines.  
  • Have your child wear a mouthguard if they play sports where there is a high chance of physical contact or high velocity contact, such as ball to the face.
  • Check that their mouthguard is snug and fits properly and fits on the top teeth (maxilla) and covers the gum tissue to help reduce risk to the teeth, gums, lips and cheeks. 
  • Make sure it is free of any sharp or rough edges. 

Sometimes its unavoidable to have a tooth knocked out.  Remember to remain calm and rely on this new knowledge as well as your dental provider to get you through this stressful event!