Dental Tips for Halloween

posted by Dr. Beau Beecher, DDS on 10/25/2018 in General

As we near the end of October, the pumpkins have been carved and the costumes have been purchased. Halloween is almost here, and that can mean your children are about to return home with a bag full of sugary treats that could wreak havoc on their teeth.

The good news: It's okay to let your children eat candy on Halloween because we are providing you easy tips that can help their smiles survive all that sugar.

Choose Which Halloween Candies to Keep

While you certainly can’t control what kind of sweets end up in your child’s treat bag after a night of trick-or-treating, you’ll no doubt have the opportunity to sort through their Halloween haul once they’ve hung up their costumes until next year.

You’ll want to keep an eye out for and avoid hard or sticky candies. The longer that sugary food is in your mouth, the greater the risk of tooth decay. Stickier candies that cling to your teeth, like caramel or taffy, also take longer to be rinsed away by saliva.

Don’t Let Kids Eat All the Candy at Once

Try to limit when your child eats their candy, if possible. Instead of frequent snacking throughout the day, find specific times for them to indulge in a treat, preferably after a meal. Immediately following a meal is when your mouth is producing the most saliva, which will help quickly wash away the sugar and food particles and reduce the risk of cavities.

It would also be a good idea to limit the amount of treats you keep from Halloween. Don’t feel obligated to keep all of that candy around. If your children have favorites, set those aside and consider donating the rest. There are organizations and even dentist’s offices -- including Kimball & Beecher -- that will buy back your candy by the pound and donate it to charity.

Provide Healthier Foods to Eat

Obviously, a diet comprised almost entirely of candy is not good for your general health. So be sure your child is drinking more water and consuming healthy foods to balance out their diet. You’ll want to especially avoid pairing sugary beverages with candy.

Encourage Kids to Keep Brushing Their Teeth

Last, but not certainly not least, make sure your kids are brushing their teeth twice daily. This should be the norm even when Halloween isn’t right around the corner, but it is especially important as they start digging into their bag of treats.

Schedule an Appointment With a Kimball & Beecher Dentist

In addition to brushing, flossing, and eating healthy, children should visit the dentist every six months. Keep your kids' teeth healthy, schedule an appointment with a Kimball & Beecher dentist today.