For adults, Halloween is about haunted houses, scary movies, and festive décor. For children, Halloween is about one thing: candy. While there is no doubt their tastebuds love the goodies they collect trick-or-treating, the potential damage to their teeth shouldn’t be dismissed. With this in mind, keep reading to learn the tips you need to know about cavity prevention during Halloween.
Tip #1: Provide Them with Well-Balanced Meals
One of the best ways to keep your child’s oral (and overall) health in check during this spook-tacular time of year is by serving them a nutrient-dense breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Leafy greens, lean protein, fresh fruits, and nutritious carbs all are jam-packed with essential vitamins that will keep their teeth and gums healthy from the inside-out.
Tip #2: Help Them Complete Their Oral Hygiene Routine
As your child grows up, they become more and more proficient at brushing and flossing their teeth. In the meantime, they’ll likely need a little (or a lot of) help from you. For some children, reinforcing good habits, like brushing for two full minutes, is all that’s needed. For others, a more hands-on approach is necessary, like demonstrating how to properly floss between each tooth.
Tip #3: Encourage Them to Exercise Moderation
Like most things in life, moderation is key when it comes to candy consumption. While part of the Halloween season is indulging in fun candy, excessive sugar consumption can quickly lead to dental problems, like cavities. On Halloween night, encourage them to sift through their candy, select their “must-haves,” and donate the rest. That way, they won’t be tempted to indulge well into November.
Tip #4: Schedule Their Six-Month Dental Checkup & Cleaning
On a daily basis, brushing and flossing will effectively remove food particles and debris from your child’s teeth. However, only the specialty tools at their dentist’s office can eliminate plaque buildup and tartar. So, if their second checkup and cleaning of 2021 isn’t on the calendar yet, now is the time to schedule it!
Halloween is supposed to be spooky, but it shouldn’t be a scary time for your child’s teeth! The good news is that with a well-balanced diet, solid at-home oral hygiene routine, a bit of moderation, and the help of their dentist, they can enjoy a healthy, happy smile well into 2022.
About the Author
As both a mother and a dentist, Dr. Racha W. Kadamani truly knows the importance of keeping growing smiles cavity-free. In fact, that’s one of the many reasons she focuses on providing personalized, meticulous, enjoyable dentistry! She earned her dental doctorate from the Loma Linda University School of Dentistry and has roughly two decades of experience caring for patients of all ages. If your child is overdue for their six-month checkup and cleaning or you’re simply interested in learning more about oral hygiene best practices they should be following at home, don’t hesitate to visit her website or give her a call at either of her two conveniently located offices.
