Many parents think that rationing out their child’s Halloween candy collection to one piece every few hours is the best way to decrease their child’s chances of developing cavities. It makes sense, right? Pediatric dentist, Mark Helpin, disagrees.
Helpin says it is actually better for kids’ oral health that they eat larger quantities of candy at once rather than small quantities over an extended period of time. This is because the frequency of candy ingestion, not the amount, is what increases cavity risk.
The major cavity risk factor in candy is that, because they are refined carbohydrates, they make the mouth more acidic. And increased acidity in the mouth increases the risk of cavities. The same is true of chips and pretzels. Each time candy is eaten, the mouth’s pH level can take up to an hour to return back to normal. Yet regardless of how much candy is eaten at once, the acidity level will take the same amount of time to lower itself.
When a child eats candy throughout the day is when the problems arise. This is because the mouth’s acidity level does no get a chance to return back to normal, Helpin explains.
“The longer teeth are in an acidic environment, the greater the risk they will become decayed,” Helpin said.
For this reason, Helpin suggests parents dispense Halloween candy as a dessert or a snack. He also recommends teeth brushing after eating candy if possible. If not, kids should rinse their mouths out with water three or four times after enjoying candy, which helps reduce the acidity in their mouths.
“It’s not realistic to think you can tell your child you can’t have candy, cookies, cakes, or other treats,” Helpin said. “Those are the things most people enjoy and we want our kids to enjoy life.”
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