9 Tips for keeping your kids teeth healthy During Halloween

At Sorenson Pediatric Dentistry, Dr Levi Sorenson and his team are dedicated to safeguarding the oral health of our patients, just as we know you, as parents, are too! We also understand that you want your children to fully enjoy the fun and excitement of the spookiest holiday of the year. That’s why We’ve put together our Healthy Halloween guide, with 9 tips for keeping your kids teeth healthy during Halloween. It is filled with expert advice to help protect your family’s teeth during the candy-filled weeks ahead. These dentist-approved tips will ensure your children can savor the holiday without compromising their beautiful smiles.

1. Make Smart Choices

While sugary treats aren’t great for teeth, chocolate is a much better option than sticky candies like gummy bears, Skittles, or Starburst. These fruity candies easily get stuck on and between teeth, as you might expect, while chocolate can be washed away more easily. An even better choice? Dark chocolate, which not only ranks as one of the healthiest candy options but is also easier to clean off your children’s teeth!

2. Avoid hard candies

Hard candies are another nemesis! Treats like lollipops, Jolly Ranchers, and butterscotch dissolve slowly, leaving teeth and gums exposed to sugar for extended periods. Even worse, they can lead to chipped or broken teeth. It’s best to limit or avoid these sweets whenever possible.

3. Maintain Exceptional Oral Hygiene

Brushing twice a day and flossing at least once is crucial for children (and parents!) year-round, but it’s especially important in the weeks after Halloween when candy consumption spikes. During this time, maintaining proper oral hygiene is essential! For children eight and under, pediatric dentists recommend that parents brush their children’s teeth carefully after the child has had a turn in both the morning and evening. Parents should also help them floss every night before bed. Additionally, if your child eats candy during the day, encourage them to brush their teeth as soon as possible afterward.

4. Stay Hydrated with Plenty of Water

Pediatric dentists always encourage our young patients to drink plenty of water. While you’re likely aware that sugary drinks like juices and sodas are harmful to teeth, what you might not know is that water helps rinse the mouth, washing away sugar and bacteria that can cause dental issues. If your tap water contains fluoride, it can also aid in preventing tooth decay.

5. Create a schedule

Instead of letting your children snack on candy throughout the day, encourage them to enjoy their treats at designated times. For instance, they could have a piece of candy after lunch and another after dinner, with brushing scheduled after each treat. This approach limits the time sugar stays on their teeth. Additionally, eating candy right after meals takes advantage of the increased saliva production during mealtime, which helps wash away food and bacteria and prevents candy residue from lingering longer than necessary.

6. Set a limit

Let’s be honest: your children don’t need six pounds of candy each. After trick-or-treating, have them select their favorites and consider donating the rest. You might send the extra candy to troops overseas through programs like Treats for Troops or find local Halloween candy buy-back programs by searching for “candy buy-back” along with your zip code

7. Sugarless Gum

Can’t brush right after eating candy? The American Dental Association notes that “chewing sugarless gum for 20 minutes after meals helps reduce tooth decay, as increased saliva flow helps wash away food and neutralize the acids produced by bacteria.”

8. Change it up

We recommend balancing out sweets with nutritious foods that support oral health. Milk and other low-sugar dairy products are excellent sources of calcium, which strengthens teeth. Cheese, in particular, helps lower the pH in your children’s mouths, benefiting their dental health. Crunchy foods like apples, carrots, and cucumbers naturally clean teeth as they’re eaten, helping to dislodge plaque and remove bacteria.

9. Choose sweet over sour

On the subject of pH, sour candies can significantly raise the acidity in your mouth, which is harmful to young teeth and gums. The more sour a candy is, the higher its acidity level. High acidity can erode the enamel on your children’s teeth, and once enamel is lost, it can’t be replaced. Since enamel protects teeth, its loss makes them more susceptible to decay, discoloration, and sensitivity.

Here are some more tips on keeping your child’s mouth healthy during Halloween!

Enjoy the fun of Halloween with following these teeth healthy tips!

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Call us and schedule your child’s appointment today: (702)586-4347