Tips for a Healthier Halloween from a Pediatric Dentist
Halloween can be a fun time of year to celebrate with family and friends, but it can also be a tricky season for teeth thanks to an abundance of sweet treats available to kids. Dr. Villasenor and the team at Rise and Shine Pediatric Dentistry advocate enjoying sweet treats in moderation, and have some tips to help make for a healthier Halloween while still having lots of fun.
Focus on Costumes, Crafts, and other Fun!
For Dr. Villasenor’s family, the focus of this holiday is on planning and creating fun costumes- more than on the treats that are inevitably part of the “trick or treating” outing. She always offers some choices at her home that aren’t food, such as stickers, since many children have food allergies that prevent them from being able to eat certain foods.
When it comes to candies, not all are equal in their impact on your child’s teeth. Dr. Villasenor recommends avoiding foods that get stuck in the deep grooves of children’s teeth, such as taffy or gummies, or hard foods that could chip teeth when biting on them, such as hard suckers or jaw breakers. Treats such as chocolate are easier to brush off teeth after enjoying. Some sneakier foods such as goldfish crackers don’t seem sweet, but are carbohydrate based and like to stick in teeth for a while after eating. We recommend only enjoying these types of foods with water or other less sticky foods such as cheese or fruit to help remove crackers from the teeth.
Do a Candy Trade-In!
It’s best to enjoy treats in moderation, and follow this by brushing and flossing with a parent’s help. At the Villasenor home, each child can pick out a few of their favorite candies to enjoy in the days following Halloween, and then they can choose to trade the rest for fun craft supplies. Dr. Villasenor is happy to support your family as you navigate sugary holidays in a way that keeps teeth healthy. Call or visit our website to coordinate your child’s visit at Rise and Shine Pediatric Dentistry today!