Dentist’s tips for enjoying Halloween candy
Halloween is just around the corner, and while children are excited at the prospects of extra candy and sugar, dentists are cringing.
While the effects of sugar may not be noticeable right away, too much sugar can quickly lead to tooth decay and cavities, resulting in a need for dental procedures like composite fillings, crowns and root canals.
Fighting the effects of sugar
To protect against the effects of sugar, these considerations can help:
Sensible Food Choices — Though most foods contain some sugar or starch, you can control the amount of sugar you and your family consume by making dietary adjustments, such as eating a balanced diet of grains, fruits, vegetables and protein; limiting between-meal snacks; avoiding sugary foods that stay in your mouth for long periods of time, such as hard or chewy candy; and saving sugary treats for the end of the meal or before a tooth-brushing session.
Oral Hygiene — Brushing teeth regularly after eating cleans recent sugary foods and existing bacteria off of your teeth. Flossing once per day helps remove bacteria from in-between teeth, a prime spot for tooth decay to develop if left unattended.
Preventive Care — Schedule regular dental cleanings and checkups to monitor and treat any signs of tooth decay early on. Sealants may be recommended for some children, as it helps to keep decay from developing in the deep grooves of molars that are hard for children to clean.
(Source: Colgate)
How to enjoy Halloween candy responsibly
As for Halloween, when the candy supply is overflowing, here are some tips for consuming sugary treats responsibly while still enjoying the festivities.
Limit Candy Consumption — Carefully examine the Halloween candy stash and remove any opened or damaged candy. Have your child sort the candy into piles and discard or give away any treats that your child doesn’t enjoy. Ration the candy into daily or weekly amounts to give your child, and store any excess supply in the freezer to keep it from going stale.
Make Snacking Healthier — Allowing candy consumption at mealtimes allows saliva production to help rinse food particles from teeth, suggests the American Dental Association. Offer Halloween candy alongside a glass of water and other healthy snacks, such as apple slices or grapes, which may pair well with sugary treats.
Do a Trade — If your little one collected more than he or she should eat in the span of a month or so, offer to make a few trades. Let the child "buy" other items, such as toys or tickets for an outing, by using the candy as currency. Try trading a pound of candy for new book or toy.
(Source: Colgate)
Further reading
Looking for more Halloween reading? Here are a few fun links:
Feeding Littles’ advice for Intuitive Eating when it comes to Halloween candy.
The healthiest and unhealthiest Halloween candy.
Sweet and spooky Halloween traditions.
Operation Gratitude is a great program for donating candy to Deployed Troops, Veterans and First Responders. (Our 2016 haul and our 2015 donations.)