How To Protect Your Child’s Teeth This Halloween

As parents, we want the best for our children…but we also want them to be able to enjoy themselves. Halloween isn’t any different. If you’re like most families, your child most likely has one or two different fall parties to attend on top of traditional trick-or-treating, leaving them with more than their share of candy. It may not be easy for us to admit, but even dentists love a good piece of candy now and then. Candy in and of itself isn’t going to destroy your child’s smile; but there are some things to keep in mind to help protect their teeth.

Don’t Make the Candy Last Through Thanksgiving

The more frequent your child has sugar exposures to their teeth, the longer acids are able to work against the enamel. It’s better to have several pieces of candy at one time than to just have one here and there throughout the day, because the exposure times to sugar and acid are less. Just be sure not to eat so much that you’ll get a stomachache!

Pick and Choose Which Candy To Eat

Most likely, your child isn’t going to be able to eat all of the candy that they’ve accumulated. Go through and find which candies they like best, and sort out the rest. You can donate it to a charity or even throw it away when they aren’t looking. Softer candies like chocolate are safer for their teeth than sticky taffy or similar items that may pull out sealants or cling to their teeth for hours.

Add Some Fluoride to Your Oral Hygiene Routine

Brush and floss religiously each day, to make sure you’re removing excessive bacteria that may have accumulated. After brushing and flossing, rinse thoroughly with a fluoridated mouthwash to help strengthen and restore minerals to the teeth so that they are more resistant to decay.

Most importantly, enjoy your Halloween as you spend time together as a family and having some extra sweet treats are fun for kids and adults. We know you’ll be sneaking some, too!