Here are a few tips for parents that will help keep teeth healthy during Halloween, according to the American Academy of Dentistry:

• Eat Halloween candy and other sugary foods with meals or shortly after mealtime. Saliva production increases during meals and helps cancel out acids produced by bacteria in your mouth and helps rinse away food particles.
• Avoid hard candy and other sweets that stay in your mouth for a long time. Besides how often you snack, the length of time sugary food is in your mouth plays a role in tooth decay. Unless it is a sugar-free product, candies that stay in the mouth for a long period of time subject teeth to an increased risk for tooth decay.
• Avoid sticky candies that cling to your teeth. The stickier candies, like taffy and gummy bears, take longer to get washed away by saliva, increasing the risk for tooth decay.
• Drink more water. Drinking optimally fluoridated water can help prevent tooth decay. If you choose bottled water, look for kinds that are fluoridated.
• Maintain a healthy diet. Your body is like a complex machine. The foods you choose as fuel and how often you “fill up” affect your general health and that of your teeth and gums.
• Avoid beverages with added sugar such as soda, sports drinks or flavored waters. When teeth come in frequent contact with beverages that contain sugar, the risk of tooth decay is increased.
• Chew gum that has the ADA Seal. Chewing sugarless gum for 20 minutes after meals helps reduce tooth decay, because increased saliva flow helps wash out food and neutralize the acid produced by dental plaque bacteria.
• Brush your teeth twice a day with an ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste. Replace your toothbrush every three or four months, or sooner if the bristles are frayed. A worn toothbrush won’t do a good job of cleaning your teeth.
• Clean between teeth daily with floss. Decay-causing bacteria get between teeth where toothbrush bristles can’t reach. Flossing helps remove plaque and food particles from between the teeth and under the gum line.
• Visit an ADA member dentist, such as HealthNet’s dentists! Regular visits to your ADA-member dentist can help prevent problems from occurring and catch those that do occur early, when they are easy to “treat.”

School’s out for summer!!! Many children are already outdoors playing tag, swimming in the pool or enjoying the delights at the fair. Here are some ways that parents can ensure their kids enjoy summer vacation without neglecting their oral health care!

Swimming Pools
Research has shown that people who spent more than 6 hours a week in swimming pools ended up with discolored front teeth. Bad levels of pH in a pool can break down proteins in saliva and leave a brownish stains on your teeth. If the pool’s pH balance isn’t properly cared for, the water can also soften enamel, leading to an increased risk of decay and damage. Regular visits to the dentist for cleanings and fluoride treatments can combat both of these problems!

Summertime Foods and Beverages…and Your Smile
During the summer, kids are probably going to attend a lot of fairs, cookouts, and sporting events, and with that comes a variety of beverages and snacks. Summertime drinks include soda, sports drinks, and lemonade, all of which are loaded with sugar. But don’t brush your teeth too soon after consuming acidic beverages! These drinks can soften enamel, and brushing while the enamel is soft can do more damage. Wait at least an hour before you brush! If possible, limit the sugar intake by diluting your drink with water to reduce the risk of cavities.

Sports
While the kiddos are getting their teeth tickled ask about getting a customized mouth guard made to protect their teeth while they participate in outdoor sports and recreational activities!

For more information about HealthNet’s Dental services, please visit www.indyhealthnet.org or call 317-957-2450.

Each February, the American Dental Association (ADA) sponsors National Children’s Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. Tooth decay (cavities) is the single most common chronic childhood disease according to the U.S. Surgeon General.  The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) encourages parents and caregivers to “Get it Done in Year One.” Visiting a pediatric dentist by the time the first baby tooth appears enables the child to begin a lifetime of preventive dental care, helping to minimize tooth decay and cavities, 90% of dental decay can actually be prevented. Studies show that dental costs for children who have their first dental visit before age one are 40 percent lower in the first five years than for those who do not see a dentist prior to their first birthday.

Baby teeth are vulnerable to tooth decay from their very first appearance, on average between the ages of six and 12 months. Pediatric dentists specialize in caring for these teeth, imperative for proper speech development and nutrition. The specialized care offered by a pediatric dentist includes strategies for working with children that alleviate fear and anxiety through the use of positive reinforcement and behavior guidance.

Special importance is placed on preventing tooth decay. Studies show that poor oral health care in children can lead to impaired school performance and poor social relationships.

The role of the Pediatric Dentist changes as children enter adolescence. Recognizing the growing importance of appearance and self-image in their patients, Pediatric Dentists work to ensure that adolescents’ dental needs are met. Preventative dental health care is emphasized and when necessary information is provided to adolescents about subjects such as wisdom teeth, tobacco use, sealants and oral piercing.

This February please help the initiative to give kids an early start to lifetime of healthy teeth and gums!

For more information about HealthNet’s Dental Department, call a HealthNet location near you!