4 Easy Tips to Protect Your Children’s Teeth This Halloween

Houston Pediatric Dentistry Blog

4 Easy Tips to Protect Your Children’s Teeth This Halloween

Kids look forward to Halloween for many reasons. Along with dressing up in a costume, kids can collect and eat a variety of delicacies, mostly candy. You know as a parent that sugar is not good for their teeth.

There’s no excuse for your child to miss Halloween. Fortunately, there are steps you can do to protect your child’s teeth this Halloween season. Here are four tips for parents to protect their kids’ teeth from Halloween candy.

1. Know which candies are bad for your teeth.

Halloween candy contains sugar, which is why it is bad for your teeth. Sugar, as you know, causes cavities. Beyond sugar, certain candies are acidic, degrading enamel. When a tooth’s enamel goes away, it becomes more vulnerable to injury.

Some sweets are worse for your teeth than others. Knowing what candy is bad for teeth allows you to either prevent your child from eating it or limit their consumption.

Some of the worst candies for your teeth are:

  • Dried fruits and sweets These treats stick to your teeth, causing cavities.
  • Popular lollipop and hard candy. Longer in your mouth, more sugar binds to your teeth.
  • Sour candy One of these candy is gummy worms, which are high in acid and can harm teeth.

Dark chocolate, sugarless candy, and candy that dissolves easily are examples of less harmful confectionery.

2. Know when it’s okay for your kid to eat candy.

You should not let your youngster eat Halloween candy all day. Consuming candies at will,  not only hampers their appetite but also increase their risk of cavities.

The best time for kids to eat candy is right after a meal.

The foods your kids eat with their meals may help them avoid cavities. Among them:

  • Dietary fiber-rich foods
  • Cheese, milk, and other dairy items
  • Fluoride-laced poultry, cereals, and other foods

You can also give your child a few pieces of sweets right before brushing their teeth. Brushing teeth after candy consumption is the fastest way to remove plaque and bacteria.

If you wish, make a contract with your child. If kids want more candy during the day, they must brush after each bite. If your kids can’t wash their teeth after eating candy, give them sugarless chewing gum, which stimulates salivation and helps remove food particles.

3. Ask your child to share or donate his candy.

Encourage your child to share their excess Halloween candy with others. Sharing their treats helps them eat less candy and protects their teeth. They can share their candy while also helping a good cause.

4. Make a pediatric dental appointment soon.

If you suspect your child has a cavity from too much sugary Halloween sweets, have them checked out right away. Some signs of a cavity may include:

  • Toothache or a sweet sensitivity
  • Pain when drinking or eating hot or cold foods
  • Surface stains on teeth

The sooner your child’s teeth are examined by a dentist, the better. Untreated cavities can lead to pain, abscesses, tooth damage, and chewing difficulty. In severe cases, untreated cavities might cause tooth loss.

Contact Houston Pediatric Dental Specialists if you have concerns about your child’s teeth, regardless of how much Halloween candy they eat.

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