Ahhh, Halloween! Who doesn’t love all the spooky decorations and adorable costumes? But then there’s the candy … all. that. candy. As parents we want our kiddos to enjoy the holiday, but what are we to do about about all that sugar?!? Luckily the DFC docs are here with a few tricks to keep your kids’ smiles safe from all those treats!
Dr. Katrina Hays recommends avoiding sticky candies. They tend to get stuck in between teeth thus giving sugar more time to do its dirty work! Her #1 candy recommendation? Chocolate!!! “Chocolate melts in your mouth so it doesn’t spend as much time on your teeth!” Now that’s a recommendation we can all get behind!
Dr. Michael Becker takes a different tack to Halloween goodies. “Let them indulge on Halloween night! Eat that candy up! But then get rid of ALL THE REST. It’s all about how often sugar is sitting on your teeth. A one-time candy fest (followed by a thorough brushing, of course) is better than a candy every day after school.”
“Listen to the experts!” says Dr. Jeff Hays. “The AAPD (American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry) cautions parents to avoid ‘chewy or sticky candies like caramels, gummies and sour candies.’ Stick with pretzels, crackers, and milk chocolate. Even better alternatives are dark chocolate and sugar-free gum. The less time your teeth are in contact with sugary sweets, the better!”
Read More: Diet, Cavities, and Bug Poop!
Of course, all of our dentists echo one sentiment above all the rest, “BRUSH! BRUSH! BRUSH!” Make sure to get a good, thorough brush and floss before heading off to bed after trick-or-treating. Don’t leave any sticky sugars or stuck popcorn kernels behind to do their dirty work while kiddos sleep.
And … ahem … not that any of our parents are out there raiding treat buckets and bags after bedtime, but just in case, make sure you get a good brush and floss before bedtime as well!
From the Dentistry for Children family to all our patients and families,
have a safe and happy Halloween!
For more Halloween safety tips, visit SafeKids.org and the American Academy of Pediatrics!
