Smile-Friendly Halloween Candy Tips from Your Children’s Dentist

If you’re a child, Halloween likely means three important things, “candy, Candy, and MORE CANDY.” Of course, if you’re a parent, all these sweets might have you a little bit worried about your child’s smile. Thankfully, there are a few easy things you can do to help your child enjoy the holiday and keep their smile nice and healthy at the same time. What are they? We’re glad you asked! Here are 3 simple Halloween candy tips from your children’s dentist in Mesquite from Bear Creek Family Dentistry.

1. Avoid Hard and Sticky Candies

Sugar is the root cause of a wide variety of dental problems, especially cavities, and as we all know, candy tastes so great because it is almost ENTIRELY sugar. However, not all candy is the same, so certain kinds are actually better or worse for the teeth than others.

What kinds of candies can do the most damage to your child’s teeth?

According to your kid’s dentist in Mesquite, anything that is hard or sticky. Why? Whether because the candy simply grabs onto the teeth and won’t let go or takes an extremely long time to eat, these types end up exposing your child’s teeth to way more sugar for longer periods of time compared to items that melt or can be eaten quickly.

So, one easy way to protect your child’s smile is to gently encourage them to enjoy more items like chocolates that won’t cling to their teeth. If they end up with a few hard or sticky candies in their bucket, just have your child trade them with you for more teeth-friendly treats (be sure to stock-up beforehand!).

2. Space It Out

We’ve all had that experience when we were younger where we went Trick-or-Treating, got home, tried to eat all the candy we had just gathered, and then immediately regretted it. Of course, this kind of gorging isn’t just bad for your child’s tummy, but their teeth as well. For this tip, you’ll have to be quick!

Once your child gets home and dumps their haul for the year on the table, let them have about 2 or 3 pieces, and pack the rest away. They might fuss a bit, but trust us, this is better for everyone!

With this, you can actually make Halloween last a bit longer. Let them have a little bit of candy occasionally, and this will save them from being exposed to too much sugar at one time. We suggest only giving them candy after they’ve had a full meal, as this will encourage them to eat less.

3. Don’t Forget to Brush!

During all of the Halloween fun, the most important thing you can do to take care of your child’s smile is make sure they maintain consistent brushing and flossing. This will prevent the sugar on their teeth from building up and turning into plaque that can develop into cavities.  If they are out and about and don’t have time to brush after they’ve enjoyed sweets, a quick mouth rinse with some water is the next best thing.

And with that, your little ghost or goblin or princess will be able to have a candy-filled Halloween without you worrying about a big dental bill in the near future!

If you’d like to learn more about keeping your child’s smile healthy and beautiful year round, be sure to ask us during their routine checkup and cleaning. Is it time for their next one? If so, be sure to contact your pediatric dentist in Mesquite today!