In our local general dentistry office, we treat patients of all ages and have regular conversations with parents about eating candy on Halloween. This is the time of year where the sugar comes out in massive quantities and the candy they get on Halloween can last all the way to the cakes and pies of Thanksgiving. With three full months of treats ahead, it is important to set the trend for healthy habits in October instead of waiting for December.
The first thing you should do is schedule a dental exam and teeth cleaning. By removing the plaque and bacteria from your teeth and your kids' teeth, we can help to prevent cavities from forming. If you do have any cavities, we can treat them right away so that the infection doesn't spread. The same is true for gum disease. By catching and treating it early, we can prevent further infection.
Once you know that you and your kids have healthy teeth, it is important to keep them that way. In addition to visiting our general dentistry office, here are steps you can take this Halloween to keep teeth in good health.
- Limit the candy intake. Before going trick-or-treating, set a limit as to how much candy everyone is allowed to have. Limit yourself, as well. This way there are no arguments while you're out and about. Simultaneously, you will be preventing a massive sugar overload from happening.
- Eat a healthy dinner. Make sure that you and your kids eat a healthy dinner before going out. This needs to include lean protein, dairy, complex carbs, and veggies. By eating a well-balanced meal, you and your kids will have immediate and sustained energy. Additionally, your kids won’t feel the urge to pig out on candy since they will already be full.
- Bring healthy snacks. You can carry things like apples and sliced cheese with you while trick-or-treating. If someone gets hungry, they can tap into these snacks instead of diving into the candy bag. This is a good solution for everyone in the group.
- Carry water. Every time your child eats a piece of candy, give them a drink of water. This will help to wash away the sugar and prevent it from simply sitting on your kids' teeth all night. It will also help them to stay full throughout the evening.
- Brush teeth. Make sure that as soon as you get home, their teeth get brushed with a fluoride toothpaste. This will remove the sugar from their teeth, and gums and the fluoride can actually help to strengthen teeth
- Put the candy away. Don’t leave the candy out because if you do, your kids will be tempted to eat a piece every time they walk through the room. Once they have reached their limit, it should be put in a safe place so that they have to ask permission to have another piece.
In our general dentistry office, we focus on keeping our patients in good oral health so follow these tips to prevent a Halloween cavity.
