Parents keep an eye on their kids’ oral health year-round by booking regular visits to the dentist and monitoring their sugar intake. Halloween presents a unique challenge because most of the holiday revolves around sweet treats. Use this guide to find out how you can help your little one indulge safely.

How Parents Can Help Their Kids Enjoy Halloween Candy

1. Save It for Mealtimes

Chewing food stimulates saliva production. Since saliva helps wash away bacteria, sugar, and acids that contribute to tooth decay, your child should eat their candy during or after a meal. For extra protection, serve their treat with water. This drink is less harmful than sugary, acidic sodas and will work with the saliva to keep their mouth clean.

2. Sort Their Treats

The longer candy stays in the mouth, the more likely it is to cause cavities. Have your trick-or-treater discard sticky, chewy candies, like caramels and taffy, that can get stuck to their teeth. They should also give away hard varieties, like lollipops and jawbreakers, that must be sucked on for a while.

3. Encourage Good Dental Habits

Brushing helps remove candy residue and bacteria that get stuck to the teeth. Make sure your child brushes for two minutes and offer mouthwash for an added boost of cleanliness. Have them floss thoroughly to remove sugary particles caught between the teeth or below the gumline. Perform this task for them if your little one is younger and can’t maneuver the string on their own.

Take your youngster to the dentist once their candy stash is gone. The team at Preventive Dental Services PC, in Homer and Barrow, AK, will perform a thorough exam to ensure your child doesn’t have any cavities from the Halloween candy. They’ll also perform a thorough teeth cleaning to remove any residual sugars. Get more information about their services online, or call (907) 235-1286 to schedule an appointment with a dentist.