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Avoiding cavities and COVID-19 this Halloween — here are 15 tips for trick-or-treaters

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It’s been an unusual year. While we are all weary of the restrictions due to COVID-19, we still need to enter the holiday season with caution. If your community allows door-to-door trick or treating, here are 15 quick tips for maintaining children’s teeth and health.

1. Agree on a Plan
To be safe, kids must agree to trick-or-treating with a small group of siblings or friends, stay at least six feet away from others, wear a mask, not dip their hands in community candy bowls and absolutely not unwrap or eat any candy while en route.

2. Consider Alternative Activities
What about creating a Halloween family night by making sugar cookie cutouts of pumpkins and ghosts and creatively decorating them? While they are baking, perhaps parents can conduct a candy treasure hunt around the house as children read clues about the candy hideouts? With the threat of COVID-19 still very much alive, kids can have a ball wearing costumes, making delicious cookies and discovering stashes of candy.

3. Hide the Sweets
Whether kids amass candy at home or in the neighborhood, parents should have some control over when the candy is consumed to prevent dental disasters, over consumption and mouths full of bacteria. When the goodies are out of sight, you help limit temptation. Also, most infectious disease experts note that holding the candy at home for a day ensures that no COVID-19 germs have survived.

4. Agree on the Best Time to Consume Candy
Let’s face it: we all hoarded candy when we were kids. We’d hide in the basement or behind the garage and indulge in our stash. We didn’t even think about at least washing the sugar away with some gulps of water. How about negotiating with the kids the best times to eat their candy haul? Some families allow kids to pick out two items for their lunch box and additional pieces for after-dinner dessert. There’s a good reason to eat candy after a meal. Since saliva production increases during meals, it helps eliminate the acids produced by bacteria in the mouth and rinse away food particles.

5. Beware of Bacteria
The true news is that it’s really not the candy itself that causes tooth decay. It’s the bacteria that develops due to the sugar. Bacteria enjoys sugar as much as your child adores candy. Unfortunately, the bacteria produces the erosive acids that cause tooth decay, cavities and gum disease. When kids know this, they tend to be a bit more cautious.

6. Maintain a Healthy Diet
As tempting as it may be, eating candy is no substitution for a meal. The nutrients from a balanced diet help keep the body, gums and teeth strong. Parents can make a deal; kids eat portions of vegetables and other nutritious food offerings, and Halloween candy can be their dessert. The worst thing you can do is swipe a Snickers from a candy bowl for a mid-day snack and let the sugar linger in your mouth until tooth brushing time. Try to avoid those sweet snacks.

7. Drink Lots of Water
We always want to be hydrated to maintain a healthy body. Water is also a Halloween necessity. When you are hydrated you have plenty of saliva to wash away all that harmful bacteria lingering in your mouth from the sugar. The best way to deal with Halloween candy sugar is to drink water, rinse and repeat. Maybe you can even sing it as a jingle with the kids. If “Baby Shark, doo, doo, doo doo” can become a hit, why not “drink, rinse, repeat.”

8. Stay Away from Sugary Beverages
This includes soda, sports drinks and flavored waters. When teeth come in frequent contact with beverages that contain sugar, the risk of tooth decay is increased.

9. Crack Down on Hard Candy
Avoid hard candy and other sweets that stay in your mouth for a long time. Unless it is a sugar-free product, candies that remain in the mouth for a long period of time subject teeth to an increased risk for tooth decay. Also noteworthy is that biting down on hard candy can lead to a disaster such as a cracked tooth.

10. Avoid Sticky Situations
Be picky if it’s sticky! Sticky candies cling to your teeth. The stickier candies, like taffy, caramel and gummy bears, take longer to get washed away by saliva, thus increasing the risk for tooth decay.

11. Praise Chocolate
Chocolate is probably your best dental-friendly treat, which is helpful since it’s also one of the most popular kinds of candy handed out on Halloween. Chocolate is one of the better candies because it washes off your teeth easier than other types of treats. Dark chocolate also has less sugar than milk chocolate.

12. Chew Gum
According to the American Dental Association, 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 bacteria. You might even want to think about giving out sugarless gum as a treat instead of candy.

13. Brush Twice a Day
Dentists can’t say this enough. Brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes with a fluoride toothpaste. Remember, 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.

14. Clean Between Your Teeth
You knew this one was coming. Floss your teeth once a day. 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.

15. Wash Your hands
Be sure to wash your hands before departing for the evening and try not to touch any gates, door knobs or door bells along the way. Wash your hands when you return home.

Wishing all families a safe and tooth-healthy Halloween.

Dr. Shelley Shearer is a graduate of the University of Louisville Dental School and founder of Shearer Family and Cosmetic Dentistry in Florence, the largest all-female dental practice in Northern Kentucky.

Fearful Dental Patients Have More Sedation Options Than Ever

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Velontra is moving forward into the unknown, as we rapidly develop hypersonic propulsion and platforms. We are proud to announce that we are teamed with University of Missouri Kansas City to pursue research and development in hypersonics. Our ability to rapidly prototype, combined with UMKC’s subject matter expertise and facilities will accelerate our technology development. VOSB Velontra is excited to “boldly go where no one has gone before.” This picture is a sneak-peak at some of the places we are going. Enjoy!!!!

Shelley Shearer: The denture dilemma — what’s the best choice? least expensive? right for you?

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Modern dentistry has provided consumers with more choices than ever before when it comes to dentures. Here’s some help as you or a loved one ventures into the world of dentures. What’s right for you? How do you get the best fit? Which procedure is the least expensive?

Traditional Dentures

Everyone has heard of dentures, also known as false teeth, and perhaps grew up with commercials for products to better grip them in place. Dentures are an important part of restoring a person’s smile. But they are not without complications. They still slide, causing challenges for eating and talking. The sliding can also cause soreness on the gums. Plus, dentures require care. It’s imperative they don’t dry out. When not worn they should be placed in a cleanser soaking solution, brushed daily, and examined for any cracks or chips. The American Dental Association estimates that dentures will last five-10 years before needing relining, rebasing, or replacement.

For a firmer denture fit, consider implant-retained dentures. Using dental implants to retain or support ill-fitting dentures has gained in popularity. With implant-retained dentures, the gums absorb more of the force of the bite. Fewer dental implants are required, making treatment less expensive. Known as “snap-on dentures,” they are firm and provide the confidence that they won’t slip while eating or talking. They are taken out and cleaned at night. Best of all, they can be anchored with just two-four implant screws for a secure all-day fit, then easily “snapped out” for cleaning, sleeping, and resting.Implant Retained Dentures

Implant retained dentures can be conveniently made for just a portion of the mouth and blend in with the remaining permanent teeth.

Implant Supported Dentures

There’s a third alternative to the denture dilemma that provides a permanent, solid fit. While conventional dentures are supported by the gums and the underlying bone structure, implant-supported dentures draw strength from the bone. The dental implants that support these dentures are surgically embedded into the bone to prevent slipping. They also stimulate the bone; it is less likely to shrink the bone area like traditional dentures do. In fact, the titanium implant fixture eventually fuses to the living bone cells of the jaw.

While these implant-supported dentures seem to last longer and have a more comfortable fit, they are more expensive. However, in the long-run, some believe that implant-supported dentures may be more cost-effective. Dentures don’t last long because they often need to be adjusted or remade because the mouth changes shape with age and pressure on the bone. There is also a greater risk for damaging removable dentures since they are taken out of the mouth daily. Often the acrylic wears down. Conversely, since implant-supported dentures preserve the bone, there is far less maintenance, making them a good long-term investment.

Other benefits of implant-supported dentures include a more natural tooth feel, greater confidence that the new pearly whites won’t embarrassingly slip, and improved nutrition since it’s much easier to bite into an apple and other solid fruits and vegetables.

Care is similar to regular, permanent teeth maintenance: daily brushing and flossing, and regular visits to the dentist for tooth care.

For those suffering from TMJ dysfunction or sleep apnea, this alternative helps them feel more comfortable at night since the teeth do not come out. From a psychological standpoint, waking up with teeth permanently fixed in place is a huge morale booster.

Four anchor implants are used to achieve a firm, confident, natural feel without the thought of having to take out the dentures.

While there may be a few side effects from the surgery such as gum swelling, face pain and minor bleeding, they don’t last long. What’s enduring is no more looks of premature aging, better nutrition, the halting of bone loss and of course the addition of an improved smile.

Dr. Shelley Shearer is a graduate of the University of Louisville Dental School and Founder of Shearer Family and Cosmetic Dentistry in Florence, the largest all-female dental practice in Northern Kentucky.

Shelley Shearer: The ongoing homeschooling class — the never-ending one of dental hygiene for your kids

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Many Kentucky parents sighed a collective sound of relief when they learned their homeschooling sessions were about to end for the summer. But there’s one homeschooling session that should forever be part of the family learning dynamic—dental hygiene. It should be easiest for families used to NTI (Non-Traditional Instruction). NTI was created to keep education moving when classroom buildings are not accessible. Think of NTI as a hybrid of task-based learning rather than time-based instruction. It allows for creativity and exploration to abound.

This ongoing NTI-like “dental class” can actually be one of the most creative, fun-loving learning sessions you can have with your children. Really! Here’s the plan for how the class plays out to create fun-filled sessions that will preserve children’s teeth, save you money, and contribute to their overall health.

There are no limits to how creative parents can get with these sessions. Here’s a quick primer:
Dental Hygiene for Elementary School Children

1. Decide when you will meet to discuss dental health. Perhaps the kids can get an overview of information at the same time once a week and then show off their skills before bedtime.

2. The class consists of discussing brushing techniques, flossing daily, avoiding sugary foods and how often the brushing and flossing should occur. Several child-oriented videos are available on-line to be shown during “class time.”

3. Show them how to properly brush and floss by having them watch you. This “lab time” is a perfect situation for leading by example. Perhaps a favorite song can play for two minutes, demonstrating how long a tooth-brushing session should last.

4. Test what they have learned through dental bingo. Draw or create on the computer a square with three rows of three spaces. A sheet can be made for each child with keywords from their lessons such as brush, floss, cavity, tooth, dentist, toothpaste, smile, mouth, toothbrush, molar, enamel and tooth fairy. The child who wins gets a sticker on the refrigerator chart. Once their chart row is filled, they receive a prize. The award can be a coveted experience like extra pool time or an item–their favorite snack or a special book.

5. Keep momentum going with fun games. A favorite is “hide the toothbrush.” A brand new toothbrush depicting a cartoon character is hidden in the house. The first to find it gets to keep it as a replacement for when their current brush has lost effectiveness.

6. Prepare your students for a “field trip” to the dentist. Remind them what will happen. They will also need to know the new rules per COVID-19. This will alleviate any fears they have when they see a near-empty waiting room and the staff wearing masks and shields.

Dental Hygiene for Pre-Schoolers

According to the American Dental Association, tooth decay is the number one dental problem among preschoolers. In fact, one out of 10 two-year-olds already has one or more cavities. By age three, 28% of kids have one or more cavities. By age five, nearly 50% have one or more cavities.

Dentists constantly discover that parents hold the false belief that cavities in baby teeth don’t matter because they will lose them anyway. The truth is that dental decay in baby teeth can negatively affect permanent teeth and lead to future dental problems.

A parent’s lesson plan for such little ones includes the basics. As soon as teeth pop in, parents can gently brush the baby teeth with a child-size toothbrush and water. Soon, toothpaste the size smaller than a pea can be used. Brushing to music can create a bedtime ritual that will continue with them without assistance. A spirited child may want to take over the task by age three. This can help develop a habit that will last a lifetime.

Also, by age three, a pea-sized amount of toothpaste can be used with the hope that the little one wants to take command of brushing. The trick is to dissuade the child from swallowing the toothpaste. Swallowing too much fluoride can make white or brown spots on the child’s adult teeth. Continuing to brush to music makes the task go quicker. The more compliant they are, the better chance they have of winning a prize—a Sponge Bob toothbrush or other character-decorated brush.

As teeth come in by age three, they are ready for a field trip to the dental office where more fun awaits. Dentists have a common desire to start kids on the correct path to dental well-being. It’s done with fun. Most offices now have cartoons and movies to watch and prizes for good behavior.

While the school session may end for the summer, dental training doesn’t cease until the teen years. Enjoy the time with your child, knowing that you are creating lifetime habits and a beautiful smile that will warm your heart for years to come every time you see your child.

Dr. Shelley Shearer is a graduate of the University of Louisville Dental School and Founder of Shearer Family and Cosmetic Dentistry in Florence, the largest all-female dental practice in Northern Kentucky.