4 Halloween Candy Tips!

Helping our kids stay healthy can be a struggle year round, but during the holidays, there is an added difficulty in making sure kids eat healthy foods as well as special treats. Before your kids gather Halloween candy, read this blog to find out some easy ways to keep your kids smiling while protecting their oral and overall health. One of the easiest ways to ensure your child’s smile stays healthy is to visit a children’s dentist twice a year for dental checkups and teeth cleanings.

1 – Keeping Teeth Clean

As usual, you need to make sure your kids are brushing and flossing their teeth each day. If your children are eating some extra sweets, you may want to have them brush between meals too, and if you don’t already have one scheduled, consider making an appointment with your dentist.

2 – Avoiding the Worst Halloween Candy Offenders

All candies contain sugar that can cause damage to teeth, but there are some candies that are worse than others for teeth. Chocolate actually doesn’t cause much harm to your smile, and dark chocolate is actually fairly good for teeth as it can remove plaque and it has minimal added sugars. Sugar-free gum chewed between meals will decrease the chances for tooth decay. Some of the candies that are more likely to damage teeth include:

• Caramels and other sticky treats may pull on teeth
• Hard candies and suckers can chip or crack teeth and need to remain in the mouth for long periods exposing the teeth to more damage
• Gummy candies that get stuck between teeth are more likely to cause decay

3 – Everything in Moderation

It’s important to limit the amount of candy your child eats, but it’s also important to limit the times your child is consuming the candy. It’s recommended that people only eat sweets and other treats directly following meals. At this point, your teeth are already undergoing acid attack, but you are also producing saliva to neutralize it.

4 – Monitor your Kids & Call the Dentist When Needed

If your child has a toothache or damages a tooth while eating candy, don’t hesitate to call your dentist. Even if the dentist determines you don’t need to come in right away, they can walk you through how to care for your child’s smile over the phone.

Meet Dr. Green

At the Blaine dental office of Douglas Green, DDS, we are happy to welcome patients of all ages, and our friendly, knowledgeable team will help you and your loved ones achieve and maintain your healthiest smiles. From the eruption of the first tooth to the very last, we’re here to help. This holiday season, we invite you to visit Imagine Smiles for all of your oral health care needs. Call our office if you have questions or you would like to schedule an appointment with our skilled and caring team.