Share:

With Halloween around the corner, your little ghoul or goblin may be counting down the days until they get to enjoy their candy. However, these festive goodies are packed with sugar that fuels cavity-causing bacteria, and they can harm your youngster’s teeth. Here are a few dental care tips to help them indulge while avoiding oral issues.

How Parents Can Help Their Kids Enjoy Halloween Candy Safely

1. Be Selective

Children get many treats on Halloween, from hard candies and chocolates to caramels and lollipops. To minimize the effects of sugar on your little one's teeth, help them make smarter choices by removing harmful sweets. Caramels or hard candies take time to chew and can get stuck on their molars. Instead, give them chocolates since they can be eaten quickly—this will reduce their teeth’s contact with sugar.

2. Set a Limit

dental careSweets can be hard to resist, and little ones who don't know their limits can be tempted to keep eating long after they're satisfied. To reduce their consumption, set limits for when and how much they can indulge.

Let your little one choose a piece for dessert after dinner, or as a special treat during a family movie or game night. Helping your child understand that treats should be enjoyed in moderation will help establish good dental care and eating habits as they grow.

3. Implement a Buy-Back

While candy is enjoyable during the days after Halloween, keeping large amounts in your home can make it challenging to limit your youngster’s consumption, especially when they know it's there. To make it easier for your child to part with, offer a candy buy-back. Give them money, trinkets, or playtime in exchange for their bag of treats.

 

Once the sweets are gone, take your little one to see Stephanie ML Wong, DMD, in Honolulu, HI. Dr. Wong and her team will assess your child’s teeth to make sure they didn’t develop any cavities from enjoying their Halloween treats. They’ll also perform a thorough cleaning to give your youngster a fresh slate for the rest of the year. To get more information about their dental care services, visit them online or call (808) 732-3072.

tracking