Are you looking for ways to keep your family safe this Halloween? These simple tips can help keep everyone in your family safe from potential dental problems. Happy Halloween!
1. Portion the candy
Divide all the candy into three portions. One portion is to be eaten right away, another part is to be eaten later, and the last portion is to be donated or discarded.
This will help control how the candy is regulated and also keep the candy from being eaten constantly. Constant exposure to cavity-producing acids can lead to the tooth breaking down faster and result in cavities quicker.
2. Stay away from sticky candy
Sticky candy such as gummy bears, sour patches, and tootsie rolls can stick to teeth longer and have a higher chance of populating acid-producing bacteria that cause cavities.
If you can separate the sticky candy from the rest of the sweet, the chances of developing cavities are lower. However, be warned that prying yummy candy away from kids may put YOU in a sticky situation.
3. Finish the hard candy as soon as possible
While we recommend entirely staying away from hard candies, if your child does love them, try to keep them from sucking on them or keeping the candy in their mouth for too long. This is especially true for lollipops. Prolonged exposure to acids in the mouth can cause tooth breakdown and cause multiple cavities in the mouth.
4. Chocolate is good!
Yes, we said it. Chocolate is good, or at least better! It doesn’t stick to teeth like sticky candy and is easily chewed, unlike hard candy.
If there is any candy that is good for our teeth and our souls, it is chocolate. Keep the chocolate and enjoy it with your kids!
5. Brush right away and remember to floss
Be sure your children brush their teeth every time they eat candy. Better yet, limit Halloween candy intake to after-meal times and remind them to brush after meals or before bed.
Cavity-causing bacteria can spread from one tooth to another, like an infection. Hence, it is important to floss between teeth and brush thoroughly to remove any debris that these bacteria can feed on. Brushing and flossing is the way!
6. Participate in a candy Buy-Back Program
Many schools and dental practices have candy buy-back programs for Halloween, and this year is no different. Encourage your child to give up the candy and make some money.
7. Encourage regular check-ups at the dentist
There is no substitute for a professional looking at you and your children’s teeth to ensure no cavities are forming, Halloween-related or not. Regular dental cleanings can remove cavity-causing plaque from children’s teeth, leading to fewer cavities. In some cases, smaller cavities can even be stopped from growing bigger.
Halloween is an excellent reminder to ensure you keep up with dental check-ups and plaque control!
