Many kids look forward to Halloween because they get to collect free candy. However, parents often worry that these treats will cause toothaches and oral decay. Use this guide to find out how you can let your child enjoy their haul without harming their teeth.

3 Tips for Safe Halloween Candy Consumption

1. Sort Their Stash

Remove sticky candies, like caramel, taffy, and gummy bears, from their haul. These sweets will cling to their teeth and feed mouth bacteria. If your child has braces, the gooey treats may wrap around and pull at their dental work, potentially dislodging a bracket and wire. Brackets need to be reapplied immediately to support the braces, and a loose wire will poke their cheek.

2. Offer It in Moderation

Allowing your little one uncontrolled access to their goodies may cause them to over-indulge in sweets. Lingering sugar in their mouth will fuel cavity-causing bacteria, causing toothaches. Put your child’s candy in the pantry so that they can’t access it without your permission. Let them have a piece or two a day until their supply runs out.

3. Serve It After Meals

Let your youngster enjoy candy immediately after a meal since their saliva production is already stimulated from chewing. Saliva naturally washes the mouth of food residue, so it’ll help remove lingering sugars. To increase this rinsing affect, serve their treat with a glass of water. Have your little one brush their teeth when they’re done to ensure their mouth is clean.

Schedule a dental checkup once their candy stash is gone to prevent toothaches. Nelson Hatanaka, D.D.S., and his team have helped families throughout Hawaii Kai maintain healthy, beautiful smiles. They’ll inspect your child’s teeth to ensure there are no cavities, then perform a thorough cleaning to give them a fresh start. Call (808) 395-1922 to schedule an appointment.