With Halloween quickly approaching, the increased amount of candy and other sugary foods at your child’s fingertips can be detrimental to their oral health. So, what can you do to help them make it through the spooky season without painful toothaches and cavities? Along with brushing their teeth twice each day and flossing once, there are a number of other ways you can steer them away from an oral health catastrophe. Here are five Halloween oral health tips to keep their smiles as lovely as ever.
Tip #1: Eat Before Going Out
Make sure your child eats dinner before they go trick-or-treating. This will help discourage them from grabbing as much candy as possible from the houses they visit. Have them eat something when they go through their Halloween candy at home as well. Some tooth-healthy foods you can serve for dinner or a post-adventure snack include carrots, apples, lean meats, yogurt, and cheese.
Tip #2: Come Up with A Plan
Map out a route before leaving the house. This will allow you to come up with the best trick-or-treating strategies for your child’s teeth. Consider encouraging them to be more selective with their candy choices and limiting the number of houses they can visit so they don’t end the night with an excessive amount of sugary treats.
Tip #3: Have a Candy Trade-in
Allow your child to trade in most of their Halloween candy for prizes such as slime, fun accessories, toys, or stickers. They can also trade for healthier candies like sugar free gum and dark chocolate so you aren’t just adding more candy to their pile.
Tip #4: Snack in Moderation
Make a point of teaching your child about the importance of moderation. Understanding how sugar can be harmful to their oral health will make them less likely to consume copious amounts of candy. Keep the candy somewhere only you have access to so they can only eat it when you give it to them.
Tip #5: Drink More Water
Have your child drink water while they eat their candy to make them feel fuller sooner. This will also help wash away some of the sugar and food particles in their mouth, which will make it more difficult for cavities to form.
No matter the time of the year, it’s important to teach your child the importance of keeping their mouth healthy. By following these five steps, your child can enjoy a fun Halloween and exit the season with the same sweet smile they had at the start!
About the Practice
Dr. Rodger Song and his friendly, talented team at Bridlewood Dental provide high-quality dental care to patients in Flower Mound and surrounding areas in an inviting, comfortable environment. Dr. Song has spent the past 30 years practicing dentistry and cultivating an exceptional approach to oral health care that will leave patients smiling from ear to ear. He can help you care for your child’s growing smile and prevent cavities from forming to keep their teeth as healthy and bright as ever. Call (972) 906-9797 or visit their website for more information on how to have a healthy and fun Halloween.