Halloween has kids dreaming of bags of sweet candy and parents having nightmares of cavities and high dental bills. With a bit of planning, everyone can be happy as Halloween arrives and passes.
Limit the amount of candy your child eats each day
Don’t just allow free reign to the candy bag. Determine an appropriate amount in advance and stick to it. You may even find kids losing interest in the candy after the novelty wears off in a day or two.
Monitor the timing
Allowing candy directly after meals is the best time. Saliva production is high at this point and will help wash some of the sugars away from tooth enamel.
Avoid Sugary Drinks
Regulate restrictions for your kids in terms of sugary drinks. Aerated cola and other sugary beverages can cause cavities. Encourage your kids to avoid such drinks or limit their consumption to ensure their healthy smile forever.
Make sure they brush and floss
Enforce the rule of brushing and flossing after each snack. This will help keep teeth free of standing sugar. Make sure you teach your child the correct way to brush and floss so they feel confident. There are many themed toothbrushes and flavored flosses that make the experience fun.
Related Article: Halloween Treats: Bring in Your Candy and Get Paid!
Teach them the joy of sharing
Don't miss out on Plaza Dental Group Halloween Candy Buyback. Bring your leftover Halloween candy to donate to our troops and bring a smile to a soldier's face!
“We are back with our Halloween Candy BuyBack fundraiser event where kids will be paid a dollar for every pound of candy they donate. All candy donated will be sent to the troops overseas,” said Dr. Steffany Mohan. Explaining the concept of people having less and help your kids experience the joy that comes from sharing their candy with others and make some extra money doing so.” Here is more info on our Halloween Candy BuyBack:
Eliminate the worst culprits
Hard candy, caramels, and other chewy treats cause more damage to the teeth than softer candies. Try getting rid of the worst culprits if possible.
Plan a fun-filled activity for your kids
Work out a system of trading with your kids. Have small prizes they can trade their candy for. Small toys, a trip to the zoo or children’s museum, a favorite meal – all of these make good trades and will have the kids looking forward to giving up their candy.
Eat Healthy
Follow a healthy diet for your kids to maintain their strong immune system, so that their body can fight any bad bacteria, virus as well oral diseases.
Visit Your Dentist after Halloween
Make sure to take your kids to the dentist after Halloween. Dental Checkups will confirm your child’s oral health. If there are cavity, tooth decay or gum issues due to candies or other foods & drinks during Halloween, the dentists will diagnose it. It’s better to treat these oral issues at an early stage before they worsen and become painful.
Related Article: How To Save Your Smiles This Halloween
Taking time to set down a few rules in advance can have your children enjoying their Halloween stash while providing you with the peace of mind knowing you are doing everything possible to prevent unwanted cavities. Everyone wins!
