Halloween is one of the most anticipated holidays for children, since they can dress up as their favorite characters and receive a large amount of candy. However, excessive sugar consumption can have a negative impact on your oral health, increasing the risk of cavities, tooth loss, and other oral problems.
“As parents it is important to teach our children the importance of oral care. Halloween is an opportunity for them to learn to enjoy sweets in moderation, and at the same time reinforce their tooth care habits,” explains Dr. Jeanette Campos, Pediatric Dentist and member of the Peruvian Society of Pediatric Dentistry of Peru.
In Peru, the Ministry of Health (MINSA) reported that 9 out of 10 schoolchildren between 3 and 15 years old have dental cavities. In addition, the rate of decayed, missing and filled teeth in children up to 12 years old is approximately 4 pieces.
Learn the tips for your children to enjoy sweets while maintaining excellent oral health:
Dr. Jeanette Campos highlights the following recommendations:
- Avoid sticky sweets: These types of sweets increase the risk of cavities. They tend to adhere easily to the teeth and can loosen the resins from the molars in children who have received treatment at a young age.
- Drink plenty of water: It is important to consume plenty of water while consuming sweets. The water will help remove residue from the sweets and neutralize the acids produced by the sugars.
- Go to the dentist: It is necessary to go with children to the specialist regularly to prevent dental diseases. In addition, problems could be detected in the initial stage, which facilitates more effective treatment.
- Hygiene routine: It is advisable to teach children the importance of maintaining oral hygiene habits from an early age, so that brushing becomes part of their daily routine. If you decide to use a mouthwash, it is preferable that it does not contain alcohol but rather antiseptics such as Cetylpyridinium Chloride (CPC) and that it is for ages 6 and up. It is worth mentioning that toothpaste must be fluoridated with more than 1000 PPM.
“It is essential to go with our children to the dentist at least twice a year to detect any problem in time. “This way we avoid complications and guarantee that they maintain excellent oral health.”highlighted the specialist.
