OUTLET: Richmond Times-Dispatch
Since many children are going to be gorging on Halloween candy in a few days, which is worse for the teeth — gooey and chewy candy or hard and sour candy?
“The chewy candy is sticky and does its damage for a longer period of time. The sour candy, since it tends to be acidic, it can dissolve enamel and, therefore, the sugar can attack the tooth more quickly,” said Dr. Richard Roadcap, a dentist in Colonial Heights.
Children can enjoy Halloween treats and avoid cavities if they and their parents take precautions, Roadcap said.
Brush teeth within 10 to 20 minutes after eating to negate the effects of the sugar, Roadcap said.
Also, “If parents are going to dispense leftover Halloween candy, they should give it to their children only at mealtimes and not in between as snacks. Then, of course, they should brush after every meal,” said Roadcap, a member of the Virginia Dental Association.
Parents can also consider over-the-counter fluoride mouthwashes, used according to package directions, Roadcap said.
Dental cavities remain a major public health problem.
Tonya McRae Adiches, a registered dental hygienist and dental health programs manager at the Virginia Department of Health, pointed to federal survey data that suggest about 80 percent of tooth decay is found in 25 percent of children.
The children most affected are those from low-income and minority families and those with special health care needs.
The reasons for the disparities, according to federal reviews, include differences in exposure to fluoridated water, in access to preventive dental services and in financial resources, such as dental insurance coverage.
Some specific figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2005-2008, include:
• 20 percent of kids ages 5 to 11 and 13 percent of adolescents ages 12 to 19 had untreated cavities. Untreated dental cavities were significantly higher in Mexican-American and non-Hispanic black children and adolescents (23 percent) compared with non-Hispanic white children and adolescents (13 percent).
• 25 percent of children and adolescents living in poverty had untreated dental cavities, compared with 12 percent for those living at 200 percent of the poverty level or higher.
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