Halloween may be the holiday of candy, but that doesn’t mean your child’s teeth have to suffer! It’s easy to have a fun, and a tooth-friendly, Halloween!
Know your candies
Help your child keep the sugar bugs at bay by understanding the different kinds of candies.
- Candies that melt easily, like chocolate, are the least harmful to your teeth.
- Chewy and hard candies can stick to a tooth’s surface and stay there.
- Sour candies are dangerous for teeth because they are coated in acid, which increases the risk of tooth decay.
So, how can you help your child avoid candy-related cavities?
Swish with water
After eating candy – especially the sticky or sour ones – be sure to swish your mouth with water. This helps to restore the acid balance in the mouth, and to wash away the sugar particles on your child’s teeth.
Serve a big dinner
Before your child goes door-to-door, serve a hearty dinner that fills them up. This will help lessen the night-of candy binge!
Start a toothbrush tradition
To encourage your kids to brush their teeth, consider adding a new Halloween tradition this year. Have your kids pick out a new fun toothbrush a few days or a week before Halloween. Then, on Halloween night, they can trick-or-treat, eat some of their loot, and finish off the night by brushing their teeth with their new toothbrush.