Halloween Doesn’t Have to be a Scary Time for Your Children’s Teeth
Your little goblins have probably been planning their Halloween costumes for weeks! Halloween is one of the most candy-filled holidays of the year, but it doesn’t have to be scary when it comes to your children’s teeth. There are ways to let them have some treats without wreaking havoc on their oral health.
Allow Your Children to Eat Some of Their Trick or Treat Candy
No doubt your children want to eat some of their trick-or-treat candy, otherwise what is the point of going? Following are a few tips to get through this fun-filled holiday.
- Minimize the cavity-causing potential of Halloween treats before your children go trick-or-treating. Establish the fact that you will go through their loot bag for safety’s sake and for removing the candy that is more detrimental to their teeth.
- Agree on the number of treats they will keep. This number can be based on their age or other factors. Allowing children to help decide on the amount of candy they keep has benefits beyond good oral health. Teaching them that too much sugar can lead to tooth decay is beneficial while learning that all candy is not bad.
- Ideally you should go through their bags of Halloween candy together. Let them pick the candy they want based on the number of treats previously determined.
- No doubt there will be leftover candy. Be creative with what you do with the extra sweets, including donating it to a food bank, freezing it for later, or taking it to the office.
- If you’re really creative, let them trade in the bulk of their loot for some kind of non-candy prize.
What’s the Worst Halloween Candy for Your Child’s Teeth?
All candy is not created equal. The consistency of the candy makes a difference, so the stickier the candy, the worse it is for teeth. Sticky, chewy candies are cavity-causing monsters.
- Gummies, taffy, and caramels get stuck in the pits and grooves of teeth, where it’s nearly impossible for saliva to wash them away and it’s difficult to brush the sticky residue out.
- The longer any candy remains stuck in your teeth, the more time the bacteria has to feed on the candy, which provides the perfect storm to develop cavities.
- Hard candies, such as jawbreakers and Jolly Ranchers can break their teeth.
- Acidic sour candy eats away tooth enamel.
- The least harmful candy is chocolate! It doesn’t stick to teeth, and the cocoa in it has many beneficial properties. The darker the chocolate, the less sugar content in each piece they eat.
- Our instinct as parents is to have our children brush their teeth right after they eat candy. Wait at least 30 to 60 minutes before brushing, especially when they’ve eaten something acidic. Brushing right after eating can increase the erosive action of the acid on tooth enamel. Instead, give them a glass of water to swish away the sugars and the acid.
Healthy Teeth is a Year-Round Venture
The job of keeping your child’s teeth healthy is ongoing. Good oral habits include brushing their teeth twice a day, flossing at bedtime, and keeping those sugary treats to a minimum. Above all, don’t forget to schedule regular dental visits with Dr. Angela S. Evanson, DDS.
Dr. Evanson provides dental care for the whole family in Parker with easy access to patients in Highlands Ranch, Aurora, Castle Rock and Lone Tree. Contact us online or call (720) 409-0008 to schedule an appointment.
Sweet treats are part of Halloween, but it doesn’t have to be a scary experience for your children’s teeth. Let your little goblins enjoy the holiday and teach them how to manage their sweets!
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