Although candy is inevitable this Halloween, it does not have to be scary for your child’s dental health.
This is the perfect time to teach your little one how to avoid cavities. Here are some tips to enjoy all of the sweets without the cavities:
- Swish Away the Treats – Encourage your child to swish with water after indulging in sugary treats. Choose treats that are consumed quickly and can be rinsed from the teeth with water, such as chocolate treats (yum!).
- Make a Candy Plan – Avoid all gummy or taffy treats that can stick in the pits and grooves of teeth, as well as, between the teeth. Avoid sour candy that has a higher acid content and can break down tooth enamel. Discuss how much candy your child is allowed to eat prior to partaking in their trick or treat festivities.
- Start a Switch Witch Tradition! Create a tradition where the switch witch visits your house and swaps your child’s candy for a toy, book, video or something on your child’s wish list.
- All kids want to get loads of Halloween candy when out trick-or-treating but as a parent, you know that eating too much candy is not good for your child.
Allow Your Kids to Enjoy their Treats in Moderation – After trick-or-treating, set a specific treat time with your child for when they can eat a treat. Limit this to 1-2 treats per day.
- Avoid Sticky Situations – Sticky candy clings to teeth, as it takes longer for saliva to wash it away, and thus increasing the risk for cavities.
- Drink More Water – Drinking fluoridated water can help prevent tooth decay.
- Hold onto the bag – If your kid keeps the bag of candy, good luck trying to control how much candy they’ll eat.
- Maintain a Healthy Diet – The foods you choose as fuel and how often you “fill up” affect your general health and that of your teeth and gums.
Wishing you all a happy, safe, and cavity-free Halloween!
