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Halloween Candy: What You Need to Know

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It’s every child’s favorite time of year: Halloween. This is the one time of year where kids get all of their favorite candy without having to ask permission or spend their allowance. However, for parents, the scariest part of Halloween is what might be going on with their kids teeth (or their own) after consuming more sweets and treats than usual. Here is what you need to know to have a stress-free Halloween:

  1. Remember, a few days of eating candy won’t ruin your child’s oral health if they have a good routine with regular brushing and flossing. Just be sure they are cleaning their teeth after meals and before going to bed. The only thing you should be worried about is getting them to bed on time after all of that sugar!
  2. If you child has braces, they can still participate on Halloween! Just make sure you know what is safe for them to eat, and clean around the braces well before bed. Stay away from sticky, chewy candy and avoid biting on hard candies. If you still aren’t sure, review the list your orthodontist gave you or give them a call.
  3. Drinking more water can be helpful. Water is great at dislodging food from between your teeth, but fluoridated water can also help prevent tooth decay.
  4. Setting rules is important. Your child is going to want to eat as much candy as they can as soon as they return from making their rounds in the neighborhood. Eating too much sour can hurt their mouth, and too much sweet can hurt their stomach. The best thing to do is set some rules about how much candy is allowed at once, and spread their loot across several days.

The most important thing is for your kids to have fun, and that certainly won’t be the case with cavities! Call our Chesapeake office today at (757) 609-3510 to schedule a dental visit or to learn more about our practice.