According to a Survey conducted by Information Solutions Group involving children ages 5-13, two thirds of the US children population, considers Halloween to be their favorite holiday. Your dentist knows that candy consumption is almost unavoidable at this time of year, so here are some tips to help your children and their teeth stay healthy during this Halloween season.
Timing
Eat Halloween candy (and other sugary foods) with meals or shortly after mealtime. Saliva production increases during meals and helps cancel out acids produced by bacteria in your mouth and rinse away food particles.
Choose candy carefully
Avoid hard candy and other sweets that stay in your mouth for a long period of time. Candies that stay in the mouth for a long period of time increase sugary exposure to your teeth and increase risk of tooth decay.
Avoid Sticky Sweets
Sticky candy like taffy and gummy bears take longer to get washed away by saliva and increase the risk of tooth decay.
Drink water
Water can help flush the palate and clear the candy from your teeth.
Halloween is a holiday for the young and young at heart. So this Halloween try not to overdo the sweets and remember that a proper oral hygiene routine for your little ghosts and goblins is essential to maintaining good oral health all year round.
Remember to brush twice daily, floss at least once a day and visit your Dentist twice a year for cleaning and routine checkups.
