Brace Yourself For Halloween
Posted on 10/27/2015
Brace Yourself For Halloween
Halloween poses a threat to your child's oral hygiene and orthodontic treatment. Read about how to keep your child's braces and/or teeth healthy on this spooky holiday! October is here, and that means many of our patients are getting excited for Halloween. But while the fun and festivities of the night are always a treat, there's one thing that's truly scary about this holiday - the dangers it poses to teeth and braces. For this blog, we're going to talk about how you can keep your child's teeth and braces safe this Halloween.
Tooth Protection
For teeth, the dangerous thing about Halloween - as much as it hurts to say it - is the candy. The sugars in candy collect in the mouth and interact with naturally occurring bacteria to form acids that eat away at the enamel of the teeth, and if left alone for long enough, this process can lead to tooth decay and cavities. There are things you can do to help. While it may not be possible to avoid candy altogether, try to limit your child's candy consumption. A "buy-back" program is a fun way to do this, where you can offer your child some amount of money (say, a dime) for every few pieces of candy they trade in or encourage your child to take advantage of our candy buy back option below. Another way to help is to have your child eat their candy on the quicker side - one night of gorging is better for teeth than spreading things out. Finally, always have your child brush and floss their teeth after eating to help them clean their mouth and protect themselves from harmful acids.
Playing it Safe with Braces
For braces, the major danger is hard or sticky candies. These have to be avoided, as hard candies can break off brackets, and sticky candies can get lodged in between wires, damaging braces and resulting in expensive repairs that significantly set back treatment. Instead, look for soft alternatives to Halloween favorites, and always be sure to have your child brush their teeth after they consume any sugary snacks.
Candy Buy Back: A Sweet Solution
To make it even easier for our patients to protect their teeth this Halloween, APDO is offering a Candy Buy Back program. Between November 2nd & November 4th, we will be collecting candy at our offices that will be sent to brighten the lives of our troops. For your generous trade, you will receive $1 for every pound of candy you bring in, up to $5! The collection days are as follows:
November 2nd & 3rd – Collecting at our Scottsdale Office
November 3rd & 4th – Collecting at the Grayhawk Office
Contact Your Scottsdale, AZ Pediatric Dentists
Have more questions about our Candy Buy Back, or navigating the holiday season with your child? We're always happy to help. Feel free to reach out to us at our contact page or use our easy online form to schedule an appointment at our Scottsdale or Grayhawk, AZ office. We can't wait to hear from you, and we look forward to seeing you back at this blog for more tips and info on keeping your child's teeth healthy and safe!