Halloween brings with it costumes, spooky décor, and candy galore. These treats come with a trick, though – too much candy causes cavities. And Halloween is the holiday where people get the most candy. This means that knowing how to prevent cavities is especially important, unless you want oral health scares in addition to jump scares. Here’s what you should know about how to prevent cavities from Halloween candy.
Avoid Hard Candies
Hard candies are among the worst options for your teeth. Lollipops and suckers and the like can chip or crack your teeth if you bite down on them. Sucking them isn’t any better. Sucking a hard candy leaves it in your mouth for much longer than it normally would be. This means that your teeth are being exposed to sugar for a much longer time than they should be, which intensifies your risk for developing cavities.
Avoid Chewy Candies
Chewy candies are a menace to your teeth. Not only are they hard to eat, they get stuck to your teeth. It can be hard to remove sticky candy residue, but it’s necessary to. Left on your teeth, the sugar would eat a hole into your teeth – making cavities.
Make Switches
There are alternatives you can take for Halloween without sacrificing fun. Chocolate is a better treat to hand out than lollipops. You can avoid giving out candy entirely and instead offer temporary tattoos and little toys and the like.
You can offer switches for your children, too. Perhaps you offer a toy in exchange for some of their candy, or chips or chocolate. You could suggest they share their candy with a friend. There are several little switches you can make to make Halloween less scary for your teeth.
Limit Candy Given Out
If you’re giving out candy, try to keep it to one treat per person. If you are taking your child trick-or-treating, make sure they only grab one candy from each house rather than handfuls. Limiting how much candy is received reduces the risk of too much sugar consumption.
Limit Candy Consumption
Instead of binge-eating candy, spread out how much candy is allowed at a time. Perhaps you let your children have their candy gradually. Perhaps you offer a switch like is mentioned above, giving a toy in exchange for candy. There’s nothing wrong with a bit of candy here and there, so long as you are responsible about your oral hygiene.
Have Candy After A Meal
Another way you can limit candy consumption is by offering a piece or two after a meal. It’s better to consume candy after already having eaten, because all the chewing produces a good amount of saliva. Saliva helps fight germs and protects tooth enamel, as well as preventing tooth decay and gum disease. This means that if you have candy after a meal, your body naturally offers better protection against the sugar than if you had it on its own.
Drink Lots Of Water
Water can help rinse any stray particles off of your teeth. Drinking water after having candy helps to reduce the amount of sugar damage and potential for cavities. But this is still no substitute for….
Good Oral Hygiene
Just as any other time of year, good oral hygiene is essential to preventing cavities. It’s especially important around Halloween. With all that sugar, you must ensure you are brushing twice a day, flossing, and that you are going to your regular dental exams. Make sure you wait at least half an hour after having candy before you brush your teeth, though, otherwise you could risk damaging them.
Halloween doesn’t have to be scary for your teeth too. Hopefully with these tips, you will feel better prepared to face off against potential spooky cavities. Having fun and staying safe don’t have to be separated from each other.
Do You Have Questions About Cavities?
Here at Avenues Dentistry, we know how important it is to prevent cavities, and to treat them as soon as possible in order to prevent them developing into a more serious issue. We provide excellent dental care and are happy to help you and your family with any dental exams or problems. To schedule an appointment or to ask any questions, please contact us at Avenues Dentistry today!