6 Halloween Candy Tips To Help Your Kids Avoid Cavities

Children everywhere look forward to Halloween all year for the costumes, pumpkin-carving and, most of all, big bags of candy. Unfortunately, all that candy can wreak havoc on their teeth and lead to major cavities. And it’s safe to say that Halloween is scary enough without a trip to the dentist! In this blog, you’ll get 6 Halloween candy tips that will help your kids enjoy their holiday while staying cavity-free.

1. Keep Certain Types of Candy To a Minimum

A good rule of thumb to remember is that the longer candy stays in your child’s mouth, the more harmful it is. Here are some examples of Halloween candy to limit as much as possible:

• Sugary gum
• Anything sticky like caramels, gummies, or taffy
• Hard candy that takes time to dissolve such as lollipops

2. Remember That Timing Matters

Instead of letting your child graze on their Halloween candy all day, it’s better to let them have a few pieces after a meal. Cavity prevention isn’t only about the amount of sugar, but also how frequently it’s consumed. For example, eating 6 pieces of candy in 20 minutes is far less harmful than eating 3 pieces of candy over several hours. To help you remember this, keep the following saying in mind: “Sip all day, get decay.”

3. Don’t Drink Sugary Beverages

During the holiday season, starting with Halloween, there are endless opportunities to indulge in sweet foods. To counteract the extra sugar, encourage your kids to reach for plain water instead of sweet beverages like Kool-Aid, sodas, juice, etc. Water also has the added benefit of washing away residual sugars after eating something sweet.

4. Remember Good Oral Hygiene Habits

Good brushing and flossing habits are important year-round, but they’re especially important during the holidays. If your kids struggle with their oral hygiene habits, try one of the many apps that will make it more fun, track their compliance, and also educate them about the importance of their oral health.

5. Give Your Kids Sugar-Free Gum

Sugarless gum is a great, on-the-go way to prevent cavities. By stimulating salivary flow, sugar-free gum washes away plaque and sugars in your child’s mouth and also neutralizes the acids that cause tooth decay.

6. Schedule a Checkup

Finally, don’t forget to schedule a routine checkup with a family dentist. These preventive visits are one of the best ways to help your child avoid cavities and minimize major dental work.

Every child looks forward to their “candy haul” after Halloween. With these 6 tips, they can enjoy it to the fullest while keeping their smile healthy at the same time.

About the Author

Dr. Jayme Martinez is a family dentist and a graduate of the Baylor College of Dentistry. He knows how much his pediatric patients love Halloween and always provides tips to help them avoid tooth decay. If you have any other questions about protecting your child’s oral health this Halloween, he can be reached via his website.