Halloween is a few weeks away and that means there will be plenty of candy on the horizon for kids. All those sugary treats are tempting, but too much at once can wreak havoc on young teeth. Health-conscious parents may worry about Halloween and all the candy kids consume, but there are ways to prepare for it.
One of the best ways to prepare for Halloween is to have a plan to manage how your children handle their stash of candy collected from trick-or-treating. It is perfectly all right to let your children eat candy occasionally, but there should be some limits on how much they eat at one time.
Here are some tips to help you handle the candy conundrum:
- Have a plan – Make your Halloween plans well in advance. This includes how much time you will spend trick-or-treating and the route you will take. Use this time to talk with your kids about what candy they can eat, how much and when. This is also a great opportunity to teach children about the importance of dental hygiene and why they need to watch how much candy they eat. If your kids are old enough, let them have a say in what to do with the candy they get: perhaps they would like to share it with other family members or exchange it for a small toy.
- Get the right bag – Avoid taking large bags or using the “pillow case” method to collect candy while trick-or-treating. Instead, give your child a smaller container which will limit the amount of candy they can carry and ultimately consume afterwards.
- Fill up early – To avoid having your kids dig into their candy during trick-or-treating, ensure they have eaten something healthy before heading out. This will make it less likely for kids to snack on the go.
- Inspect first – Advise your children to refrain from eating until you get home and have a chance to inspect their candy. This way, you can check the candy and chips to see if they are safe. Look at the expiration dates and pay attention to the ingredients. If your child has allergies to certain foods (e.g. nuts or dairy products), inspect all candy collected to see if it contains these ingredients. Also check that the foods are appropriate for your child. For example, small children should avoid hard candy (it’s a choking hazard).
- Set limits – After trick-or-treating, count the candies your kids have gathered. Decide how much they are allowed to eat each day and divide everything into portions. Use this opportunity to explain why moderation and dental health is important. Imposing rules on how much candy they can eat will be good for them in the long run. Educating your children on the importance of proper dental health early will establish healthy habits for the future.
- Consider donating – You can elect to let your children keep their favourite candy and donate the rest. This is just one of several strategies to avoid candy meltdowns. Many organizations that accept food donations also allow you to donate Halloween candy. Whichever approach you choose, speak with your kids first. Teach them about the value of sharing with others to put a positive spin on giving away their sweets.
- Eat candy after meals – One effective way of preventing cavities is to encourage your kids to eat sweets after meals. Saliva production increases when eating, which can help wash away residual sugar and food particles left on the teeth. Your child’s saliva also neutralizes any acids produced by bacteria. This can help reduce the development of cavities on children’s teeth.
- Drink plenty of water – It is advisable to drink plenty of water; at least eight glasses every day. Encourage your kids to drink water after snacking as water helps wash away sugar and prevents it from lingering on their teeth. Reducing the amount of sugar contact with tooth enamel reduces bacteria growth that can give kids cavities. Avoid drinking sugary drinks (like pop) while snacking because they contain more sugar that can damage teeth. Other things to avoid are sports drinks and flavoured water, as they contain sugar and citric acid that can also harm teeth.
- Chew gum – Have your kids chew sugarless gum instead of eating candy. Chewing gum stimulates the production of saliva, which helps wash away leftover food and neutralizes acid. You can also hand out sugar-free gum on Halloween as a health-conscious treat.
- Choose carefully – All candies are different. Encourage your kids to pick those that are least damaging to their teeth. For example, hard and sticky candies (e.g. taffy and gummy bears) last longer, which increases the risk of tooth decay. Chewy candy can get stuck in teeth (making it harder to remove) and gets stuck between teeth, requiring flossing. Hard candy can damage teeth if you bite down on it.
- Brush regularly – Continue having your kids brush and floss twice a day, especially after Halloween. When children eat candy, have them rinse before brushing to remove sugar and food particles first. Encourage your kids to take extra care when flossing to remove any candy stuck between the teeth. Your first instinct might be to tell your kids to brush immediately after eating sugary snacks, but wait half an hour. Candy softens the enamel, and brushing immediately while the teeth are still sensitive can damage them further. Always switch your child’s toothbrush after three or four months. Frayed bristles are less effective at cleaning. A new toothbrush will have better reach and cleaning power.
Giving out candy may be traditional at Halloween, but that does not mean you should not opt for healthier alternatives, or even non-food items for something completely different. The following are better choices for the dental health of your kids as well as those who come trick-or-treating:
- Dark chocolate
- Sugar-free gum
- Oranges
- Popcorn
- Pretzels
- Trail mix
- Stickers
- Pencils
- Play-Doh
Prepare for Halloween by making a plan and talk with your kids about how to deal with all the candy that is coming their way. Consult with your family dentist for further advice on how to manage your child’s Halloween candy.
At Springdale Dental Centre, our patients’ oral health always comes first. We are committed to providing you and your family with comprehensive dental care. If you seek children’s dentistry in Brampton, we offer quality care. Contact us at (905) 458-1212.
