A pediatric dentist's tricks for treat night

By Judy Fortin
CNN

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CNN -- Halloween can be a scary time of year for dentists and orthodontists. Dr. Kaneta Lott, pediatric dentist, spoke with CNN medical correspondent Judy Fortin about the best and worst kind of treats and how to care for your children's teeth.

Fortin: How do cavities form?

Lott: Cavities are formed by the fact that we all have bacteria in our mouths. The bacteria take the food that we eat and use it as their food. When they use that food they produce an acid. That sticks to the tooth and the acid begins to dissolve the enamel.

Fortin: What is the best way to prevent cavities?

Lott: We need to start out preventing decay with babies. After that, it's not what you eat -- it is how many times a day you eat it. If I drink my soda within ten minutes and you drink your soda all day long, you're going to have more cavities than I will. If I brush my teeth after, I'll have no cavities.

Fortin: When should you first bring your child to the dentist?

Lott: The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Academy of Pediatrics joined forces and they have recommended that the age is 12 months or six months after the first tooth erupts. If a child gets a first tooth in its mouth at 3 months old, we want to see that child at 9 months. We want to talk with the parents. We want to teach those parents how to keep that child free of decay.

Fortin: Should we worry about cavities in baby teeth?

Lott: Cavities in baby teeth are a big deal. If the infection goes through the baby tooth it can infect the permanent tooth before the permanent tooth even forms.

Fortin: Do you tell your patients not to eat candy?

Lott: I never say no to anything. I recommend that if a child is going to eat candy, it's not what you eat, it is how often you eat it. If I'm going to give my children candy, I give it to them as their dessert after their meal.

Fortin: What treats should we avoid?

Lott: Anything that sticks. Believe it or not potato chips are worse than candy because they get stuck between your teeth. Raisins are not the best, graham crackers get stuck, caramel gets stuck. What takes a long time to consume? Hard candies take a very long time to consume, therefore they are very bad. How long will I have it in my mouth? That's what determines if it's good or bad.

Fortin: Is there such a thing as good candy?

Lott: Chocolate would be one of the ones I would choose because chocolate does not stay in your mouth long. It has an anti-bacterial. They have tannins in chocolate. The tannins are anti-bacterial they kind of get rid of some of the bacteria that are in our mouths.

Fortin: What about gum?

Lott: Chewing gum is OK, especially the sugar-free chewing gums. We all love bubble gum. I love bubble gum, but I chew bubble gum that is sugar free.

Fortin: Any final words for parents on Halloween candy?

Lott: Have it with a meal, brush after you eat and make sure it's not squirreled away in a child's room.