Ghosts, goblins, and little witches coming to the door is right around the corner, which also means pillowcases full of candy. Halloween is one of the best times for children to have the most fun, but also presents parents with a variety of health and safety concerns.
Parents can use the following suggestions to help maintain good oral health for their children during the Halloween season and throughout the year.
- Avoid hard candy and sweets that stay in your mouth for long periods of time. The length of time sweets are in your mouth plays a large roll in tooth decay, even it it’s just for a snack.
- Drink more water. Consuming fluoridated water can help prevent tooth decay.
- Avoid sticky candies that cling to your teeth. The stickier candies, like taffy and gummy bears, take longer to get washed away by saliva, and increases your risk for tooth decay.
- Consume Halloween candy with meals. Saliva production increases during meals and helps neutralize acids produced by bacteria in your mouth. This essentially helps rinse away food particles.
- Avoid drinks with added sugar. When teeth come in contact with beverages that contain sugar such as soda, sports drinks, or flavored waters, the risk of tooth decay is increased.
- Let your children help decide what a reasonable amount of candy to keep. This will help them learn how to control their diets, and the effects of candy on their oral health.