Protecting Your Teeth This Halloween

Halloween is full of amazing costumes, parties, and most of all…candy! Don’t get us wrong, even though we’re dentists, we do love a good sweet little treat (or three). But there are plenty of risks when going out trick-or-treating and collecting all of the sweet, sugary treats, especially when it comes to protecting your teeth!

Don’t forget to schedule to get your braces or Invisalign with us before 10/31, and you’ll leave that day with an iPad or an Apple Watch, too!

If your child is going trick or treating or attending Halloween parties, be on the lookout for cavities’ favorite treats. Here is a quick guide to making better decisions for your child’s teeth this Halloween – while still keeping it fun!

• Avoid candy that is sticky, like bubble gum, gummies, taffy, and caramel. These sticky and chewy snacks usually wind up getting stuck in the grooves of the teeth, therefore making it difficult to wash away. The longer the candy sticks to the tooth, the longer the tooth is exposed to the sugar.
• Limit sour candy. These are high in acid which leads to tooth erosion or breakdown. This causes teeth to be more susceptible to cavities.
• Encourage your child to eat a small amount of candy in one sitting followed closely by brushing their teeth. This limits the time that the sugar is in contact with the teeth
• Consider some other tasty options for sweet treats include chocolate, sugar-free gum, or even pretzels and crackers.
• Another option may be having non-edible treats to give out to your trick-or-treaters. Pencils, stickers, games are great alternative fun ideas! Also, when your child brings home a bag of candy you can donate it or trade them for a fun toy!

Whatever you do, make sure to have a great time while you’re protecting your teeth! In the meantime, schedule an appointment with us to make sure you and your children are keeping your teeth as healthy as possible. Trick-or-treat!