Most of us know that eating candy is bad for your teeth. But on Halloween, you may just throw in the towel and decide to allow your kids to indulge in all those cavity-producing treats. Unfortunately, the result may be an increase in cavities, followed shortly thereafter by multiple trips to the dentist. So before you totally give in to the season, think again. We have some helpful tips that will allow your kids to enjoy Halloween without wreaking havoc on their oral health.
- Limit the amount of Halloween candy your kids collect. Few parents want to take away a child’s Halloween candy once they’ve collected it. So if your kids trick-or-treat in the neighborhood, for example, limit the number of houses they visit and/or encourage them to just take one piece of candy per house. Better yet, if your community offers any type of safe Halloween gathering, that may provide an easier way to control how much candy your little one brings home.
- Keep your kids away from sugary drinks and hard candy. The longer they’re exposed to the cavity-producing sugar and starches in treats, the more likely they are to form tooth decay as a result. So if your child is sucking on a piece of hard candy for a long period of time, or sipping a sweet drink periodically for an hour, they are exposing their teeth to more of the damaging effects of sugar. Candy that they can eat and finish quickly is a better alternative.
- Limit the number of times throughout the day that your little one can indulge in Halloween candy, then make sure they brush their teeth afterwards or at the very least wash their mouths out with water. This may sound like a challenge to many parents, who might have a hard enough time convincing their kids to brush twice a day, much less every time they eat a piece of candy. But remember that the damaging effects of sugar start to take place very quickly, and the less time the sugar is in contact with the teeth, the better.
- Choose different snacks altogether. Instead of allowing your child to snack on Halloween candy 3 or 4 times a day, provide them with healthier snacks at least half the time. Choose foods that actually promote good oral health, such as cheese, yogurt or fruit, for example.
With a little diligence on your part, your kids will come through Halloween cavity-free and still be able to enjoy all the fun of this special holiday.
