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Rit Py DENTAL aa Avoiding Halloween ADVERTORIAL- | ADVERTORIAL Dental Health Horrors! Halloween is just around the corner and we all know that for most children, Halloween means candy and lots of it! However, when your child consumes sugary food or drinks, the bacteria (germs) in the dental plaque ‘on the teeth mix with the sugars in the candy to make a mild acid. This acid attacks the hard outer layer of the tooth, called the enamel. If the dental plaque isn't removed every day by brushing and flossing, over time, the enamel gets soft and a cavity forms. The damage to the tooth depends on how much sugar goes in the mouth and how long it stays there. In other words, the longer and let your child trade in Halloween candy more often sugar touches the teeth, for a video game, book, toy or trip to the more damage it can do. the movies. You can also have your child set aside half of the Halloween Halloween with braces candy and donate it to an organization Halloween candy can be a such as a women’s shelter or a local nightmare for someone who wears soup kitchen. By reducing the amount braces, but it doesn’t have to be. Trick Of candy your child eats and or-treaters who wear braces should teaching your child that moderation avoid nuts, popcorn, tortilla chips, is important, you won't have to worry hard candy, caramel and other chewy about things like tooth decay and candies to keep their braces safe and —_- Halloween will still be fun. intact. However, there are plenty of Here are healthy treat alternatives other things that trick-or-treaters who _ for parents to hand out on Halloween wear braces can enjoy, like chocolate! Night to help trick-or-treaters avoid a mouthful of November cavities: Fun alternatives to candy Sugarless gum f you are concerned about the Sugarless candy amount of candy that youre child will String cheese receive, try rationing it over a few Parents can also give out fun toys weeks. Another ternative would be to —_and other gifts like Halloween stickers, Halloween pencils and erasers, temporary tattoos, vampire teeth, toothbrushes and floss, which will certainly help trick-or-treaters keep their smiles cavity free. HAPPY HALLOWEEN! 462 Paxton Street, Port ‘Perry "905-985-8459 www.dentistportperry.com EVENING APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE FOCUS - OCTOBER 2012 21