When spring comes around, kids anticipate a fun visit from the Easter Bunny. Their basket may include clothing, games, or toys, but another main draw is often candy! However, too much sugar poses a very real threat to their teeth.
Instead of increasing their chances of cavities by showering your child with candy, learn which ones you especially need to watch out for and how you can protect your favorite growing smile.
Easter Candies to Limit
An Easter treat every now and then shouldn’t cause serious harm to your child’s smile. The problem occurs when certain candy is consumed frequently. Around Easter time, the following candies are particularly common, but you need to be careful about how much your child eats if you want them to stay cavity free.
Jelly Beans
More than many other candies, jelly beans can get stuck in the tiny spaces between your child’s teeth. This paves the way for more acidity in the mouth where it can be particularly difficult to clean. As a result, little cavities can develop in hard-to-reach areas.
Cadbury Eggs
Although chocolate is usually less damaging to tooth enamel, the large Cadbury eggs have a gooey filling like caramel. While delicious, these sugars can linger in the mouth, encouraging bad bacterial growth long after your child has finished eating.
Peeps
They may be cute, but Peeps can become menacing when it comes to your child’s oral health. The sugar-coated, sticky marshmallows feed acid-producing bacteria that can create decay on teeth.
Alternatives to Sticky, Sugary Candy
Even if the Easter Bunny has always ever brought candy in the past, it can change things up and choose alternative goodies like toys. Instead of finding candy-filled plastic eggs, your child can decorate and find hard-boiled eggs—just remember exactly where they are if you decide to hide them. You can also try giving your child dark chocolate, which tends to have less sugar yet can satisfy a sweet tooth.
Healthy Habits Make All the Difference
If you ask your pediatric dentist, they will likely recommend these healthier foods rather than candy, but they also know that sweet treats are basically inevitable with kids. It is okay to let your child enjoy some candy this Easter, but try to limit it to mealtimes, when they naturally produce more saliva. In addition, encourage your child to drink water frequently throughout the day, and don’t forget essential, daily brushing and flossing!
Cavities don’t have to follow the Easter holiday. As long as you keep close tabs on how much candy your child has and reinforce good oral habits, your child can have a sweet Easter without putting their smile at risk.
About the Practice
The Dental Specialists Pediatric Dentistry is proud to have three board-certified pediatric dentists on staff. Each comes with years of advanced training and experience working with children ranging in age from infants to teenagers. As a result, we know how to make nervous patients feel right at home. We also are proficient in teaching healthy habits to kids, helping them avoid cavities and other issues. Would you like to schedule an appointment with us? Just contact us online here or call us in Garland at 972-364-7472.