Your Family’s Guide To Healthy Trick-Or-Treating [BLOG]
If you’re the parent of a young child, then the next couple of weeks for you will likely be a whirlwind of costume pieces, props, wigs, makeup, and sturdy little pumpkin-shaped buckets.
That’s because you have excited Trick-or-Treaters in the house anxiously awaiting an evening of adventure, hunting through the neighborhood for that one coveted treasure: CANDY!
Your child might be dressing up as their favorite superhero, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be invincible in fighting against all forces of evil. In reality, they’ll need help from you to keep their teeth protected against tooth decay and cavities during the highly-anticipated candy season.
But never fear! Our team at Alluring Smiles is here to help you! Today, we’re taking the guesswork out of how your family’s teeth and gums can best survive all the extra sugar that will soon fill the Halloween candy bowl.
Trick-or-treating is one of the most exciting experiences of the year for kids. So Dr. Portocarrero and all of us here in Mesa, AZ want to make sure the candy they’ll be eating doesn’t take all the fun out of Halloween!
Don’t Let Cavities Haunt Your Family!
When you and the kids return home after a night of trick-or-treating, you have a tough job ahead of you. With that overflowing bucket of candy they collected, the responsibility of manning the allocation of sweets falls on your shoulders.
That’s why it’s important that you’re equipped with the right information to help their teeth stay safe from cavities.
We all know that eating too much sugar is really bad for your teeth. That’s because sugar leads to cavities. You have good and bad bacteria living in your mouth at all times. It’s the bad bacteria that loves sugar! By giving it extra portions to feed on, the harmful bacteria has a better chance to be fruitful and multiply, creating destructive acids all along the way.
As soon as the wrappers are ripped away and the piece of candy pops into their mouths, all that sugar jumps onto bacteria’s buffet table, and their teeth are immediately under attack. This is true for parents, too, because who doesn’t sneak a piece of candy from their stash from time to time?
Here are some ways you and your family can arm yourselves against cavities this Halloween!
Your Healthy Trick-Or-Treating Guide
Not all candy is bad. But even the sweet treats that aren’t as harmful to your teeth need to be carefully considered. Here are some measures can you take to make your role as the Master Of The Candy Bowl as stress-free as possible!
Practice Moderation!
Rather than leaving the Halloween candy out on the kitchen counter for a few weeks, put it in a place only you can retrieve it. That will help everyone resist the urge to snack on candy all throughout the day.
It’s also smart to treat the candy like an after-meal treat rather than a snack. This way you can ensure they’re not skipping out on nutritionally rich food and will be less likely to go overboard on the sugar.
Make Sure They Drink Water!
Water is your mouth’s best defense against cavities at a time like this. With all the extra sugar your family is consuming, everyone will need to stay well hydrated so your saliva production doesn’t slow.
Saliva is what provides that protective coating for your enamel against the harmful acids created when bacteria feeds on sugar. Water should also be used in between brushing and flossing to help wash away the leftover sugars from the candy.
Add An Extra Oral Hygiene Break Each Day!
Wait about thirty minutes after your child’s after-dinner candy eating, and let them brush their teeth. Sure, they’ll still be cleaning their teeth in the morning and before bedtime, but it’s a good idea to give their oral health some reinforcement for the next few weeks until the Halloween candy supply runs out!
Schedule A Dental Cleaning & Exam!
After the sugary festivities are over, come to Alluring Smiles for a routine dental cleaning and exam to make sure your family’s smiles haven’t been compromised during your brief stay in the candy utopia!
Call us today at 480-525-6617 or fill out our online form to schedule an appointment.
