Candies Ranked from Least to Worst

Candies Ranked from Least to Worst


1. Sugar-free gum

2. Powdered candy that dissolves quickly, poured directly on tongue

3. Dark chocolate and chocolate

4. Chewy candy or sour chewy candy

5. Lollipops


Tips to Parents

1. Location, Location, Location

Where you place/hide the candy can be the most important way to control candy consumption. Put the candy up high, preferably out-of sight, so children aren’t constantly reminded of the forbidden treats.



2. Halloween Dessert

Make Halloween candy a true treat by letting children choose a few pieces after a meal. This way they are already full from their healthy food, and saliva production (which protects the teeth) has already been initiated from the meal.

3. Brush a Little Longer

Halloween creates a great opportunity to discuss proper teeth care with kids. Make it a game. Every time they eat a piece of candy they can run into the bathroom to brush their teeth, or supervise a little longer brushing session each morning and night to help offset the candy damage.



4. Don’t be the Mean Mom

If parents are really struggling to take control of the candy situation at home, schedule a cleaning for your child and let your dental professional be the big meanie. At Scottsdale Dental Arts, we explain the pros and cons and give children the facts and options so they still feel they have some control of their hard-earned Halloween candy.

The Cavity Crisis

Did your tot brush this morning? Hmmm...you were in a rush. Maybe he missed last night, too, as you battled over bedtime. These scenarios may be behind the first rise in preschool cavities in 40 years. More than a quarter of kids under 5 now have tooth decay. Rhea Haugseth, D.M.D., immediate past president of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, tells how to keep the drill at bay:
BRUSH TOGETHERMonitor tooth brushing until about 8 years of age for when your kiddo will have the motor skills to really get the job done.

HIT THE TAP
Many parents think bottled water is healthy, but it may not contain the all-important decay-preventing fluoride that's in your tap.

CURB SUGARY SNACKS
Bacteria in the mouth feed on sugar, producing an acid that attacks your teeth for 20 minutes after your last bite or sip, says Dr. Haugseth. Keep snacks to a minimum, and wash them down with water.

USE THE RIGHT PASTE
The under-2 set should brush with a thin smear of fluoride toothpaste (the size of a grain of rice). Bigger kiddos can have a pea-size squirt.

GET CHECKED
Your child should begin seeing a dentist around his first birthday.



Article from Parenting.com-October 2012 Issue