We know you want to keep smiles healthy at Halloween. We also know that can be a challenge, given trick-or-treating, parties, and all of the other candy-filled events that happen this month. Dentists aren’t monsters, so we won’t tell you to completely avoid sweet treats. But we do some have some good tricks for helping your family have a healthier Halloween.
Check out our tips here. Then call us today at 708-858-9591 if you need to make appointments for your family. It’s a good idea to get them out of the way before the busy Christmas season, which is closer than you think.
- Avoid sticky and sour candies – Treats like gummies, taffy, and caramel cling especially stubbornly to your kids’ teeth – which gives them a longer time to cause decay. Chocolate is a better option, because it tends to melt quickly and wash away. Watch the hard candies too, as they can damage teeth if you child bites down instead of sucking on them.
- Swap out candies for other treats – Make a deal with your children to switch out some of their candy for healthier treats, small toys, or even cash. If you have really young kids, you might want to leave out treats for the Halloween Fairy. Like the Tooth Fairy, she can exchange them for money or something else your child wants.
- Limit candy consumption – It’s a bad idea to let your child get into their candy stash any time they want. Instead, set reasonable limits for candy consumption – no more than a few pieces a day.
- Don’t hand out your favorite treats – Most of us have at least occasionally dipped into the candy bowl ourselves when handing it out to trick-or-treaters. To avoid temptation, we suggest buying treats other than your favorites or choosing non-candy options like chocolate-covered nuts or snack crackers.
- Donate leftover candy – If you’re looking for a good place to donate surplus candy, check out Operation Gratitude and Soldiers’ Angels, two organizations that collect it and send it in care packages to troops.
Keep smiles healthy at Halloween – and all year round. Call Smiles of Orland Park today at 708-858-9591 for an appointment at our Orland Park, IL office.