A happy smile for Halloween

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Crystal Jarvis
  • 509th Medical Operation Squadron
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  As Halloween draws near, thoughts of ghostly ghouls, creepy costumes and colossal candy hauls clog children's heads.

The potential risk for candy-coated cavities is the last thing on the minds of our little pirates and princesses. Little do they know that diet and sugar-to-tooth exposure play crucial roles in cavity development.

Cavities are formed through repeated attacks of acid on the tooth enamel. The cavity-causing bacteria in our mouths use sugars, found in the foods and drinks that we consume, as an energy source. The by-product of this energy is harmful acid which causes tooth enamel to continuously break down until a cavity is formed.

Cavities are a multi-factorial disease. Therefore, in order for a cavity to form there must be four characteristics present: a susceptible tooth surface, cavity-forming bacteria, sugar and time.

All teeth are susceptible to decay, including teeth that have already had dental work. Once sugar is ingested, the environment in our mouths changes immediately and favors cavity formation for approximately twenty minutes.

With continued eating or drinking, the environment remains conducive to decay for a longer period of time.

For example, it is better to "chug" a soda than sip it throughout the day. Otherwise, you are continually bathing your teeth in sugar and acid.

And, while foods like raisins, crackers and low-fat chips are not necessarily bad for your body, they do tend to stick to your teeth for longer periods of time. Therefore, it is ever important to ensure that good brushing and flossing habits are in place.

To keep that healthy smile and reduce the risk for cavities, teeth should be brushed at least twice daily for no less than two minutes. Flossing should be done at least once a day. Children less than eight years old do not have the dexterity to brush or floss effectively and therefore may require some assistance.

Have a safe and fun Halloween this year! Let your children enjoy their bounty of goodie, in moderation of course. While diet and exposure time play huge roles in cavity formation, sound oral hygiene practices in the home can equally combat these menacing microbes.