5 Halloween Dental Health Tips for Kids

You might think that attending to your children’s oral health issues is as easy as making sure they brush regularly and getting them in to see the dentist for a check-up every year. And in some cases, it is this easy. But the strength and durability of any child’s mouth depends on a number of factors, including heredity and the diet they ingest. And in case you didn’t know, one of the worst things you can do to teeth is expose them to sugar, starch, and acid, all of which are prevalent in the processed foods that dominate the modern diet. As a result, more and more kids are developing cavities early in life. And the sugary-sweet holiday of Halloween could play a major role, chock full of candy as it is. Considering the haul your kids bring home each year, they could be eating candy for weeks or even months if you let them keep it. However, there are steps you can take to protect the oral health of your children following this candy-centric holiday. Here are a few tips to help you out.

1. Monitor consumption. Although you may relent and allow your kids to make themselves sick on Halloween night, it’s important that you monitor their consumption of candy thereafter. This is not only a good plan for their health in general, since sugar can lead to energy spikes followed by melt-downs, not to mention mess with your children’s metabolism by introducing empty calories, but it’s also important when it comes to dental health. Sugar clings to teeth, feeding bacterial colonies that can grow and lead to cavities and other issues. But some candies also have acids that attack enamel, weakening teeth and making them more susceptible to infection. So keeping a tight rein on consumption is smart all around.
2. Impose limits. Some parents let their kids have all the candy they want on Halloween and throw the rest away. Some allow kids to pick a few favorites while the rest gets tossed in the trash. Others dole out a set number of pieces each day until the candy is gone (or stale, or expired). What you choose to do with your children’s Halloween haul is up to you. But you probably don’t want to let them stash it in their room to eat when they choose since they could end up chowing down on treats before bedtime, allowing sugar to do a number on their teeth overnight.
3. Rinse after eating. Even though your kids probably brush, floss, and rinse at least twice a day, you might want to have them gulp down a glass of water after eating Halloween candy. This will help to remove food particles from crevices where they might get stuck, as well as rinse away bacteria and sugary residue that could lead to plaque build-up, cavities, and even gum disease. As a bonus, you’ll keep kids hydrated, diluting the sugar they’re ingesting and helping to keep all of their bodily systems functioning normally.
4. Provide alternatives. Many parents have decided to keep their kids away from sugar, and candy in particular, as a way to improve their health, control their energy levels, and even deal with common issues like ADD. But you probably don’t want your children to feel left out when all of their classmates are out having fun and trick-or-treating. So you while you can allow kids to partake of the fun and even have a few pieces of candy on this one night, you might want to provide other options when you toss the rest of their candy. Sugar-free gum is a good option, as is fresh fruit, and you can always make yummy desserts that are more sensible for their diet and their dental health.
5. Schedule a dental visit. You don’t want to wait for your kids to complain of toothaches before you set up a visit with Debbie Lane Dental & Orthodontics or your local pediatric dentist of choice. In fact, it might be a good idea to schedule appointments for cleanings following Halloween or after the winter holidays when all of the sweets are finally out of the house.