Dental Tips For Healthier Halloween
Halloween is just around the corner, and we know that many of our patients, particularly our younger patients, are counting down the days until they can wear their costumes and parade around the neighborhood collecting candy and treats. While this is certainly an exciting time, it can also be a time that added sugar can wreak havoc on your oral health. We wanted to take some time and offer some tips to teach our young patients and remind our older patients how to have a healthier Halloween this year.
Eat Treats in Moderation
We all love some candy or a sugary treat from time to time; however, Halloween should not be an excuse to indulge and eat an over abundance of sweets. Eating considerable amounts of excess sugar can lead to an increase in cavities and other dental issues. If you are a parent looking to control the sugar intake, you may want to consider a candy bank. This is a new way to regulate the amount of candy consumed at one time. Children can come and make a “withdrawal” of their allotted candy each time.
Reduce Sugary Drinks
You might be surprised that sugary drinks such as soda and sports drinks have more sugar per serving than many of your favorite candies. We suggest limiting your sugary drink consumption and adding more water into your daily drink rotation. If you are not a fan of plain water, consider using a flavor enhancer or adding fruit to give some extra taste.
Consider Non-Candy Treats
If you typically distribute candy to trick-or-treaters, consider choosing a non-candy treat. This not only keeps teeth healthier, it is also being mindful to many families who experience food allergies. Great non-food options include crayons, stickers, coloring books, mini toys, and Play-Doh.
If you are located in the Kewaskum, WI area and have not visited a dentist within the past six months, we recommend scheduling an appointment following Halloween. It is a great opportunity for us to not only examine your oral health, but clean any remaining remnants of sugar from between teeth and along the gumline. We hope that you have a happy and safe Halloween!
