Halloween can be a spooky time for your child’s teeth. When it comes to Halloween, your children want to “Trick or Treat,” not have to choose between “Trick or Teeth”.
While we all want our kids to enjoy dressing up for a night of Halloween fun, we also want to avoid those creepy cavities.
Although the holiday revolves around sugary sweets, Halloween can be a great time to teach or reinforce good oral hygiene. When you talk about costumes and friends and plans for Halloween night, be sure to also discuss candy consumption, and creating good habits for their teeth.
Can’t go candy-free?
Going completely candy-free is the best option for a healthy Halloween, but not many can – or want! – to remove sweets from the holiday.
If you want your kids to enjoy their treats, here are some tips to help you and your child create healthy Halloween Habits:
Eating before treating
Eating a full meal before hitting the streets can help fuel Halloween night activities. It can also curb cravings for sweets after the haul is brought home.
When you discuss Halloween night with your kids, agree on your plan in advance – set a number of sweets they can eat that night, and how much they can consume each day.
Eating treats with a healthy meal is also a great way to reduce the acids in your mouth that can cause cavities. Why? Because saliva production increases during meals. Saliva helps break down the acids and keep mouths cleaner by rinsing away food particles.
Welcome the Switch Witch
Move aside Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny…Halloween is all about the Switch Witch!
If you want to reduce the amount of Halloween candy your child is consuming, consider welcoming the Switch Witch, who swaps candy for toys or something else non-sweet they enjoy just as much. That way they’ll reduce their sugar consumption, and still have that special Halloween experience.
Have a plan to get rid of the excess, though! Otherwise, if you have a sweet tooth all that candy may end up in your cupboard!
Choose your candy wisely!
Some candy is better than others – and not just for taste, but for your teeth as well.
Toffee, gummies, hard candies and other sticky sweets stick to your teeth and hang around longer, making it harder for the saliva to break down the acids. This can increase chances of tooth decay.
Believe it or not, of all the candies, chocolate can be the best choice for your teeth. It melts quickly and is easier to wash away with water or healthy snacks.
Rinse away the sugar
Once you’ve had a treat or two, drink some water, chew sugar-free gum, or eat a healthy snack to help scrub away the sugar. Sugar-free gum, in particular, helps increase saliva in the mouth, and remove food particles and plaque from the teeth.
Of course, the best option is to brush and floss regularly to keep those teeth and gums healthy for a lifetime.
Practice a good oral hygiene routine
For your dental care habits to become second nature, you must work them into your everyday routine. Starting these habits when you’re young is the best way to set them in stone.
This includes:
- Brushing teeth regularly (at least twice a day). Ask your dentist for toothbrush and toothpaste recommendations.
- Flossing every day. Flossing helps to remove anything that the toothbrush missed! As a result, developing a flossing habit can help ensure you’re taking proper care of your teeth.
- Opting for healthy food options that can benefit your teeth! Visit our blog, “Foods That Benefit Your Oral Health,” for details.
- Attending regularly scheduled cleaning appointments. Visiting Midland Bay Dental for professional cleaning appointments will ensure that your teeth and gums are in optimal health.
Have a Safe and Fun Halloween!
To make sure you and your child have a safe and fun Halloween, follow all the best practices for Halloween safety, like wearing reflective costumes, carrying flashlights or glow sticks and checking through the candy before eating.
Don’t Forget to Set your Next Appointment with Midland Bay Dental
In addition to professional cleaning services, other treatments can help you maintain your healthy smile! For example, professional teeth whitening treatment can help increase your confidence and, as a result, encourage you to continue to take great care of your teeth. We’re committed to helping you develop life-long oral hygiene habits! Contact us at 705-526-6441 to book your next appointment!