With 66% of Americans planning to hand out Halloween candy to trick-or-treaters this year, there will be abundant opportunities for cavities to form. Though spooky season is a fun time for people of all ages, what can you do to help your child make it through without their oral health being negatively impacted? Here are a few Halloween oral health tips that may help.
Tip #1: Eat Beforehand
To discourage your children from grabbing as much candy as possible at every house they visit, feed them a tooth-approved dinner before they go trick-or-treating. You could also have them eat a nutritious snack while they go through their Halloween candy haul. Some smile-healthy food options include:
- Seafood
- Lean meats
- Cheese
- Leafy greens
- Broccoli
- Yogurt
Tip #2: Plan Ahead
Consider mapping out a trick-or-treating route for your kids before they leave the house. This will allow you to come up with the best strategy for their smiles. You can also set a limit for the number of houses they can visit. Urge them to be choosy with the candy they pick so they don’t end up with excessive amounts of sugary treats.
Tip #3: Drink Water
Having your children drink plenty of water while they eat their candy will make it more difficult for cavities to form by washing away some of the sugar in their mouths. Water can also help fill them up faster so they eat less candy at one time.
Tip #4: Candy Trade-in
Allow your child to trade in some of their Halloween candy for sugar-free gum or dark chocolate. You can also buy fun prizes for them to exchange for, including:
- Accessories like novelty glasses, temporary tattoos, bracelets, rings, scrunchies, headbands, hair clips, or glow-in-the-dark vampire teeth
- School supplies like bookmarks, notepads, pencils, stamps, crayons, or erasers
- Toys like slinkies, bubbles, bouncy balls, finger puppets, yo-yos, slime, or Play-Doh
- Halloween plush toys shaped like pumpkins, ghosts, skeletons, or black cats
- Coloring and activity books with Halloween subject matter or designs
Tip #5: Practice Restraint
Teach your little ones about the importance of eating candy in moderation so their teeth are less likely to be harmed by these sugary snacks. Store their candy somewhere they can’t get to so they have to ask you when they want a treat.
Your responsibility to helping your kid care for their teeth lasts far beyond Halloween. By following these six tips, they’ll have a fun Halloween without sacrificing their smile.
About the Practice
Torbram Dental offers high-tech, dentistry with a soft touch courtesy of Dr. Fava, Dr. Babahami, and their talented Brampton team. They combine the latest in dental care with highly personalized, exceptional service to help make sure patients of all ages feel safe and at-ease during their appointments. They can help your kids learn about the importance of keeping their teeth and gums healthy for beautiful smiles that last a lifetime. Visit Torbram Dental’s website or call their office at (905) 792-7163 for more information about how to protect your child’s smile this Halloween.