Pediatric Dentist in Pleasant Grove: Safety Tips to Know On Halloween

America is obsessed not only with Halloween, but consuming copious amounts of candy during the holiday. Unfortunately, it’s not only ghouls and skeletons you should be afraid of during your trick-or-treating or costume parties. According to recent studies on accidents happening on Halloween, 1 in 4 children get hurt in one way or another.

These incidents can occur for a wide variety of reasons, but you can avoid them by following these simple steps provided by a pediatric dentist in Pleasant Grove. After all, protecting teeth isn’t only about brushing, flossing, diet and dental visits!

Tooth Decay and Children

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in 5 children aged 5 to 11 have at least one untreated decayed tooth. Furthermore, 1 out of 7 children aged 12 to 19 have at least one untreated decayed tooth. Luckily, tooth decay is largely preventable if you know the right steps to moderating candy consumption.

For example, take note of the candy you and your child eats and avoid the varieties that have the most potential for tooth decay. Candy that is hard, chewy, sticky, gummy or sour are all more likely to cause tooth decay because of their highly acidic ingredients and their tendency to stay in the mouth for longer periods of time. Instead, consider chocolate as a better alternative since they more easily rub off of teeth and usually contain less sugar, especially the darker varieties.

Costume Safety

Even if you’re the type of family to start trick-or-treating early, it can be easy to lose track of time. As it gets darker, walking from house to house becomes more and more dangerous. In fact, children are far more likely to get struck by cars on Halloween than any other holiday, including the Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve.

That’s why your child should wear reflective tape on their costumes or candy bags so they’re more visible to cars at night. If their costume includes a mask, consider painting their face instead to improve their visibility. Ask them to wear comfortable shoes and not oversized or high-heeled ones to avoid tripping and damaging their smile.

Planning Ahead

If your child is 12 years of age or younger, make sure they:

• Always go out with an adult
• Know how to call 911
• Know your home or cell phone number

If they are older than 12, they should:

• Know their route for collecting candy
• Carry a cell phone
• Stay with their group (if they’re chaperoning other kids)
• Only visit houses with the porch lights on

After the Sugar Rush

Once they’re finished eating their candy, make sure they wait at least 30 minutes before brushing. After the acidic properties of the candy damage teeth, it can actually harm their smile more if they begin brushing soon after. Instead, have them drink water or chew sugar-free gum to rinse away sugar immediately after eating.

Need more advice on having a safe Halloween this year? Schedule an appointment with a dentist in Pleasant Grove today!

About Bear Creek Family Dentistry

The pediatric dentists at Bear Creek Family Dentistry work hard to make young patients feel safe inside and outside the office. To them, knowing the best habits and prevention tips is half the battle against decay and potential trauma for teeth. To learn more about their preventive treatments or practice, you can contact them through their website.