The thing about Halloween Candy that Parents Should Know

 Parents, keep in mind that this is the time of year for those candy-related dental emergencies!

An older article from Dr. Bicuspids Mesissa Busch lists the worst candies to eat!

"More than one-third of people in the U.S. experience candy-related dental problems, including damaged crowns, according to survey results. As people dig into Halloween treats today, they may want to shun treats most likely to torture teeth like Jawbreakers.

Jawbreakers, Jolly Ranchers, and Bit-O-Honey may be the most dangerous candy for teeth, but they aren’t the only varieties, according to a survey of 1,002 adults in U.S. conducted in late-August 2023 by Shiny Smile Veneers in Houston, TX.

The following candies were named the fourth through the 10th most dangerous:

4. Starburst
5. Tootsie Roll
6. Laffy Taffy
7. Snickers
8. Atomic Fireball
9. Butterfinger
10. Blow Pops and Milk Duds

Some of those that made the most dangerous list also were ranked as the candy that gets stuck in people's teeth the most, according to the results.

The following made the list of the stickiest candies:

1. Laffy Taffy
2. Bit-O-Honey
3. Tootsie Roll
4. Salt water taffy
5. Jolly Rancher
6. Milk Duds
7. Jelly beans
8. Gummi bears
9. Airheads
10. Starburst

Not only can avoiding candy protect teeth from cracked fillings and crowns and tooth pain and sensitivity, but it also can save patients money. People in the U.S. have spent $538, on average, fixing their teeth after experiencing a dental problem caused by eating candy, according to the results.

Additionally, parents reported taking other precautions during Halloween season. About 50% of parents admitted checking their kid’s candy to ensure it is free of things like razor blades and drugs, according to the findings. While checking their candy, 18% reported confiscating their favorite sweets for themselves. Meanwhile, 40% of parents reported taking away some of their kids' candy to prevent them from eating it, and another 21% threw away any leftover Halloween candy after a couple of weeks, according to the survey.

Furthermore, plenty of parents also ensure their children’s safety by blacklisting some types of candies. Parents’ least favorite candies for their kids to eat are Jawbreaker, Atomic Fireball, and Bit-O-Honey."

Hope you all have a safe and fun Halloween!

Don't Let That Great Smile Go!

 For those of you that already have a great smile, I say this... Do whatever you need to do to keep it! With the cost of dentistry not going down and only increasing, the cost to get that smile back could be insurmountable.

Trust me when I tell you that the cost of toothpaste, mouthwash, floss and regular dental cleanings is a lot less expensive than the cost of restorative dental work. In today's market, you may literally need dental financing to cover it.

Here are some tips to keeping that smile great:

1. Brush at least 2x per day
2. Floss daily
3. Get regular cleanings and checkups from your dental provider
4. If you need any small dental work, don't wait.  Have it repaired as soon as possible, before it               becomes a bigger problem. 

As always, Keep Smiling! 

Emergencies In The Dental Chair - What You Should Know

 It isn't a common occurrence, necessarily.  But it does happen.  Medical emergencies in the dental chair can't always be prevented but the risks can be drastically reduced if the patient and the doctor are completely transparent and open with each other about illnesses, medication and health history. All dentists have at least some training for medical emergency treatment, however in addition he/she should have at least one staff member trained in CPR, and have an emergency plan in place which includes emergency phone numbers, a defibrillator, medications on hand and procedures to stop bleeding, etc. He should take your blood pressure reading and heart rate prior to treatment, and again after treatment. If administering general anesthesia, he should be anesthesia certified. Some states issue separate licenses for anesthesia. Always make sure he is certified, or that he has a certified anesthesiologist on staff! 

That said, here are some helpful suggestions for the patient to remember when having a procedure done:

• Disclose all medications that you take daily, even if it is just an aspirin or something over the counter. 
• If you have ever had high blood pressure, let the dentist know!
• If you suffer from acute anxiety, say so!  Many dentists cater to the anxious patient. Things can be done to help you with that. 
• If you are pregnant, let him know!
• If you have allergies to medications, let him know! 
• If you have taken anything prior to your visit for relaxation....a sedative, an alcoholic beverage, marijuana....seriously, he needs this information. Many people will do this before a visit and not disclose it thinking it won't pose a problem. The dentist isn't going to judge you, but he is going to treat you and there is a serious liability factor involved, especially when it comes to anesthesia, so don't hold anything back!

The medical history of the patient is the single most helpful thing for a dentist to have before treatment begins.  Your honesty is imperative.  He cannot effectively manage your treatment plan without this knowledge!

Keep Smiling!