How to Keep the Treats from Playing Tricks On Your Child’s Teeth

How to Keep the Treats from Playing Tricks On Your Child’s Teeth

dentist San AntonioIf you don’t want your holiday season to involve your child making numerous visits to the dentist, you should take steps to prevent Halloween from becoming a nightmare for your child’s oral health.

Of course, you don’t want to take away all of the fun of this holiday, but you can be smart about what treats you permit your child to eat and limiting the amount of candy consumed daily. All candy is not created equal, either. Sticky treats, such as caramels, and hard candies are more harmful because they expose the mouth to sugar for a longer period of time. You should significantly restrict the number of these types of treats that your child eats.

Some other types of candy are better choices. Chocolate is a good example. It dissolves fairly quickly, reducing the amount of sugar that stays in the child’s mouth to provide a nutrition source for cavity-causing bacteria. Even though these treats are not as damaging as some others, you should still ration your child’s candy. Don’t permit them to eat any more than one or two pieces per day.

To steer clear of the dentist, your child should also be more conscientious about oral hygiene around Halloween. If your child is unable to brush his or her teeth after eating candy, encourage your child to rinse with water after enjoying a sweet treat.

In addition to taking steps to limit the amount of Halloween candy your child eats, you should also consider what your dentist might recommend when selecting the treats that you will hand out to the neighborhood ghosts and goblins. In addition to non-food items like pencils and stickers, consider alternative snacks that have little or no sugar, such as pretzels and fresh fruit or fruit cups.

Want to know more about how your child can make it through trick-or-treating while maintaining a healthy smile? Contact our office to talk to one of our knowledgeable staff members.