Halloween is a time for your children to have some spooky fun and enjoy some treats, but if you’re not careful, those sugary snacks could lead to cavities and extra time at the dentist’s office. This doesn’t mean you need to keep your little ones home on October 31st; as long as you’re taking the right precautions, your family can enjoy Halloween fun while still keeping everyone’s smiles safe. Take the time to learn a few tips for protecting dental health, including the best and worst candy for your children’s teeth.
What Kind of Candy Do You Need to Be Careful Around?
The amount of sugar isn’t what puts your teeth at risk for decay; it’s the amount of time that the sugar stays in your mouth. As such, certain kinds of candy tend to be worse for your teeth than others. For example:
- Sticky candies like taffy stick to the teeth, giving oral bacteria more opportunities to feed on sugar. (Bacteria eating sugar and secreting acid is what typically leads to cavities in the first place.)
- Hard candies like peppermints stay in the mouth for a while, letting sugar mix with your saliva and spread out. Also, chewing or biting on them can wear down your teeth or even break them.
- Sour candies attack the tooth in two different ways. Not only do they contain sugar, but they’re also very acidic, meaning they can weaken your enamel and leave it vulnerable to cavities.
On the other hand, chocolate – one of the most popular kinds of candy to give out on Halloween – is a comparatively safer option because it can be more easily washed off the teeth. Take the time to sort through your child’s trick-or-treat bag; it often pays to be picky!
How Else Can You Help Protect Your Little One’s Smile?
You should make sure that your children aren’t eating candy too often in the weeks after Halloween. It’s better to spread their sugar consumption out over a longer period of time than it is to let them snack on it throughout the day. The best time to enjoy a sugary treat is after dinner when your child’s saliva production is naturally increased; the saliva will help wash away leftover food particles before they can do any real damage.
Of course, oral hygiene is more important than ever after Halloween. Brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and attending regular checkups and cleanings from the pediatric dentist in San Antonio will go a long way towards helping your child avoid worst-case scenario oral health problems.
If you still have concerns about Halloween, talk to your dentist for additional tips. Don’t let a few extra sweet treats turn into a terrible trick on your child’s pearly whites.
About the Author
Dr. Racha W. Kadamani has over 18 years of dental experience and is an active member of the Texas Dental Association. She has a philosophy of using education and preventive dentistry to protect the wellbeing of all her patients. If you have concerns about your child’s dental health during Halloween, contact her practice, Laith Family Dentistry, by visiting her website or by calling (210) 782-6842.
