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Over 141 million people purchase Halloween candy in the U.S. every year, which means lots of sweet treats coating the teeth and gums of little ghouls and goblins. If you want your children’s next trip to the dentist to go as smoothly as possible, it’s important to know which candies may do the most damage to yours or your children’s teeth. Use this guide to help your kids enjoy a fun and healthy Halloween.

Protect Your Children’s Teeth This Halloween

Hard, Sticky, & Sour Candies

Both hard and sticky, gummy, or chewy candies lodge themselves between teeth and into tooth crevices and stay there until your child brushes or flosses. Prolonged sugar exposure of this kind gives mouth bacteria plenty of time to work with the candies to form decay-causing acids and plaque. Even dried fruit has the same effect because it contains natural sugars and sticks to teeth.

Sour candies are no better, as they contain a high acid content that erodes enamel and promotes tooth decay.

Dark Chocolate, Trail Mix, & Sugar-Free Candies

dentistTrail mix, and the nuts they contain don’t typically stick to teeth or feature high amounts of sugar or acid. Sugar-free candy and gum also feature reduced acid and sugar content to lower the risk of tooth decay. Dark chocolate is also a healthy option because it is low-sugar and studies new studies have shown that it actually contains certain compounds that can help prevent tooth decay.

A Few Helpful Tips

Provide your children with plenty of water during Halloween so what they consume gets flushed from their mouths as soon as possible. Ensure they are brushing their teeth for two minutes twice a day, and help them floss if necessary so they learn how to do it correctly. For additional dental instruction, have your dentist show you and your child the best techniques for brushing and flossing. Don’t let your children “graze” on the candy. Allow them to have something after a meal as a treat, but not in between meals as a snack. If you are part of a neighborhood association or organizing the ever more popular Trunk or Treat option, suggest providing trick-or-treaters with inexpensive small toys, such as those bought in bulk from party retailers and wholesalers, to limit how much candy children in the area consume. You can also simply purchase small toys yourself to see if your children want to trade their candy for something that lasts much longer.

 

The dentists at Beard & Holmen provide families throughout Waterloo, IL, and Monroe Township with general and cosmetic dentistry services that keep their smiles healthy and bright. Dr. Darryll Beard and Dr. Charles Holmen have served the region for over 25 years. Call the dentists at (618) 939-7181 to schedule an appointment, or make one online.

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