Wondering how you and your children can enjoy Halloween candy this year without endangering your oral health and getting cavities? You’re in the right place. In this blog from The Little Royals: Dentistry for Kids, we’ll take a look at a few top tips for cavity prevention during Halloween.
Don’t let your kids keep their own stash of candy during Halloween. You won’t be able to supervise their candy consumption, which will lead to cavities. (And upset stomachs, too!) Keep Halloween candy in a place where your kids can’t reach it or keep it hidden so that you can control their consumption of candy after Halloween.
Eating a little bit of candy every hour or so may seem like a healthier way to consume sweets. But that’s not the case. Prolonged levels of high sugar caused by regular candy consumption throughout the day will contribute to a higher risk of decay. For this reason, you and your kids should eat multiple pieces of candy at once. Don’t space it out too much throughout the day.
Eating after mealtimes helps to minimize overall candy consumption since your kids won’t have as much room for sweets. Saliva production is also stimulated during and after meals, so this helps wash away sugar, too.
Brushing after eating candy is a great way to get sugar out of your mouth. If brushing after eating candy is impractical, you should have your kids rinse with mouthwash, or even just drink a big glass of water to help rinse away sugary residue.
Sticky, gummy, and hard candies are bad for your kid’s teeth. They get stuck between the teeth and are hard to remove. Instead, try to give your kids mostly chocolate, preferably without sticky additives like caramel. Chocolate is actually not that bad for your teeth, because it’s easy to clean away.
Once you and your kids are done eating candy, chewing a piece of sugar-free gum is a great way to boost saliva production and fight back against cavities. This is an easy, simple and struggle-free way to help your kids avoid tooth decay!
You and your kids should brush at least twice per day and floss once per day. Consider boosting this interval to three times per day during Halloween to help remove sugar and fight back against cavities. Lead by example, and supervise your kids to make sure they’re taking their oral hygiene seriously.
Whether you’re preparing for Halloween or want to get your kid’s teeth checked after the holiday, The Little Royals: Dentistry for Kids is here to help. Dr. Sal Colombo and Dr. Yasi Colombo can check your child’s teeth and make sure that their mouths are healthy and cavity-free.
We specialize in pediatric preventive dentistry in Country Estates, Jupiter Farm, Abacoa, and Palm Beach Gardens, and we’re always accepting new patients. To get started, just contact us at (561) 510-1450 or stop by our office at 600 Heritage Drive, Suite 110, Jupiter, FL 33458
