Dental Tips for Halloween Sweets: Your Oral Health This October
We know candy can be hard to resist, especially after all the fun from trick or treating! We’re not going to tell you to not let your kids go out and get candy, but we’re here to offer a few tips to make the process safer for your oral health.
- Eat Candy Sooner, Rather Than Later
If you can, try and eat Halloween candy with meals or shortly after mealtime. That’s because saliva production increases during meals and helps cancel out acids produced by bacteria in your mouth and helps rinse away food particles. - Avoid Sticky Situations!
Sticky candies cling to your teeth. The stickier candies, like taffy and gummy bears, take longer to get washed away by saliva, increasing the risk for tooth decay.
- Choose Halloween Candy Carefully
Avoid hard candy and other sweets that stay in your mouth for a long time. Aside from how often you snack, the length of time sugary food is in your mouth plays a role in tooth decay. Unless it’s a sugar-free product, candies that stay in the mouth for a long period of time subject teeth to an increased risk for tooth decay.
- Eat a Balanced Meal
Healthy meals and snacks should always come before candy and treats. Send the kids trick or treating with a good healthy meal in their bellies. A satisfied stomach will indulge in less sweets. - Remember to Brush, Floss, and Rinse After Eating Candy!
Candy, especially the stickier stuff, can be difficult to eat because it gets stuck between your teeth and cause tooth decay. Brushing and flossing after a snack is ideal, but don’t forget to rinse! Rinsing with a glass of water after eating a sugary treat will also help wash away some of the sugars and acids. - Have Fun!
Most importantly, have fun and be safe!
