6 Great Halloween Tips for Healthy Smiles
At our Saugus dental office, we care about our youngest patients. We also understand that you want your children to enjoy one of their favorite holidays, Halloween. The following tips will ensure your children can enjoy the holiday while protecting your family’s teeth over the next few candy-filled weeks.
1) Choose Your Treats Carefully
Although sugary snacks aren’t so great for your teeth, chocolate is notably better than other types of candy like gummy bears, Skittles, and Starburst. Chewy candies get trapped between and around your teeth, while chocolate washes away more quickly. Even better, dark chocolate is one of the healthier candy options for your children because it’s easier to clean off their teeth.
2) Stay Away from the Hard Stuff
Kids and hard candy are a recipe for disaster. Lollipops, Jolly Ranchers, and butterscotch candies dissolve slowly in the mouth, which means teeth and gums are soaking in sugar for extended periods. Hard candy can also cause chipped or broken teeth. Try to limit these sugary snacks if possible.
3) Brush After Every Meal and Every Treat
It is essential to brush twice a day and floss at least once a day year-round, but this becomes especially important during the weeks after Halloween when candy consumption increases.
If your children are eight or younger, you should brush their teeth for them (after they’ve had a turn) in the morning and evening, and help them floss every night before bed. If candy is consumed at any other time of day, your children should brush their teeth as soon as possible after eating the treats.
4) Drink Water Throughout the Day
Drinking plenty of water is always recommended. Juices, sodas, and other sugary drinks are bad for young teeth. Water helps clean the mouth and wash away sugars and bacteria, leaving less behind to cause problems. If your tap water is fluoridated, it also helps prevent tooth decay.
5) Plan Out Your Candy Consumption
Instead of grazing on candy all day, have your kids pick their sweets at specific times of the day. For example, allow them a piece of candy after lunch and dinner, with brushing planned afterward. Saliva helps cleanse food particles and germs from the mouth during meals, and eating sweets right after meals can help keep candy from sticking to the teeth as long.
6) Better to Give Than to Get Cavities
After trick-or-treating, have your children choose their favorites and donate the rest. One option is to send extra Halloween candy to troops overseas through a program like Treats for Troops. Another option is to search for local candy buy-back programs by searching online for “candy buy-back” with your zip code.