While you don’t have to forego the seasonal sweet treats completely, you should be smart about which ones you consume and when you enjoy them. Your family dentist can give you some guidance about a reasonable amount of candy consumption that won’t derail your smile.
How Sugar Affects Our Teeth
Why does sugar have such an outsized effect on your smile anyway? The culprit is the oral bacteria that thrive when they have ample amounts of sugar – their favorite source of nutrition – to feed on. When those oral bacteria proliferate, they can cause issues like cavities and gum disease.
The following daily habits can help to minimize the impact of those oral bacteria:
- Brushing twice each day for two minutes each time
- Flossing daily
- Staying well hydrated
- Eating a nutritious diet
Additionally, making sure that your child sees the family dentist twice a year for checkups and cleanings can also help smiles stay healthy at Halloween and beyond.
Protecting Smiles from The Halloween Scaries
In addition to protecting your child’s oral health by practicing good oral hygiene habits at Halloween and beyond, parents can implement holiday-specific strategies to reduce their children’s sugar intake and potential harm to the teeth. For example, you should:
- Discard any types of candy that are sticky and likely to leave a residue on the smile
- Limit your child’s candy consumption to 1-2 pieces at a time.
- Encourage your children to rinse their mouths thoroughly with water after consuming candy
Although kids are more likely to overconsume the sweet treats from their Halloween haul, parents aren’t immune to the effects of the candy that they may sample. Putting some sort of limits on consumption of sweets will benefit the whole family.
Furthermore, you can consider the smiles of all of the kids in your neighborhood when deciding what your household will hand out for Trick-or-Treat. Consider non-food items, like small toys, or healthier snacks, such as dark chocolate or pretzels.
For more guidance about balancing Halloween celebrations with protecting your family’s oral health, call Aesthetic Dental Partners or touch base at your next check-up, if you’re due for an exam and cleaning before the holiday.
