Contrary to popular belief, Halloween is not your dentist's favorite holiday. Halloween is just as frightening for a dentist as it is for most parents, because of all the Halloween candy your kids will return home with, and the damage it can do to their teeth.
If you are worried that the treats your kids will be eating will damage their teeth, this list of the top Halloween candy tips for healthy teeth should do the trick (no pun intended).
- Sort and Eliminate - After a long night of trick-or-treating, sit down with your kids and sort through the candy together. Besides checking for candy that may have been tampered with, take a look at the type of candy received, to determine if it meets your parental standards. Is the candy rock hard, just waiting to break a tooth? Is it super sticky, ready to adhere to their bands, brackets, and the ever important tooth's biting surface? If the candy your child received sets off an alarm in your mind, consider offering a trade for such candy. Set a limit of 1 to 5 cents per piece of candy, and "buy back" the offending candy. If you are faced with an exorbitant amount of unapproved candy, consider donating the candy to your local food bank. If you live in the United States, check to see if there is a candy exchange event in your area. This event allows your child to exchange their candy for a healthier treat, and at the same time, support the Smiles Change Lives program.
- Set Limits - Once you come to an agreement on the type of candy they can eat, set boundaries for when and how much can be consumed at a time. Schedule "candy time" once a day, preferably with snacks or meals, not in between. It is always best to eat sweets with other foods. The presence of the additional food increases the saliva production in the mouth. Plaque thrives on the acids produced by sugar. This increase in saliva helps to break down the sugar quickly, which in turn decreases the amount of acid produced in the mouth.
- Chew Sugar-Free Gum - Sugar-free gum works just like food to increase the saliva production in the mouth. Offer your child a piece of sugar free gum if tooth brushing is not an option after eating the candy. When selecting a sugar-free gum, look for one that contains xylitol, for the added benefit it brings for post-candy consumption.
- Brush and Floss - This one may seem obvious, but many people, kids included, fail to brush and floss their teeth immediately after consuming sugary Halloween candy. After eating a piece of Halloween candy, have your child brush and floss their teeth. Using a mouthwash designed for kids, that contains fluoride, will add that final bit of protection necessary to prevent cavities.
Halloween is an exciting time for your children. They can still have fun, and eat their candy too. By following these tips, they will learn how to enjoy the occasional treat while remembering the health of their teeth at the same time.
Sources:
Dr. Margaret Mitchell. Tips on Halloween Candy and Avoiding Tooth Decay. Accessed: October 17, 2009.
