How to Have a Dentist-Approved Halloween

Millions of Americans (especially children) don costumes and set out into their neighborhoods in search of spooky scenes and sweet treats for Halloween. It’s definitely a fun experience, but eating too much sugar can have a lasting effect on your smile. To preserve your dental health—and your kids’—try these useful tips.

Eat Better Snacks at Home

Many people host or attend Halloween parties as a substitute or in addition to candy gathering. Help offset the sugar overload by focusing on better alternatives during celebrations. Plus, many of the ideas are absolutely adorable and perfect for getting into the Halloween spirit.

Hot dog mummies, for example, are kid pleasers. They can be made with healthier alternatives as well, substituting turkey or kosher hot dogs for traditional ones. Other treats that make incredible substitutes for sugar-loaded cookies and cupcakes include:

There are plenty of alternatives if you want some choices with less preparation involved. String cheese is a popular choice for all ages, and the calcium can help strengthen teeth. Carrot fingers and pretzel sticks also make great no-hassle options.

You don’t have to avoid sweeter snacks altogether, though. There are lighter choices to satisfy sugar cravings without damaging the teeth. Most health food stores carry yogurt drops in plain or fruit/nut filled varieties. You can also rely on the natural sugars in fruits (like bananas and apple slices), which are much less harmful to teeth.

Trick or Treating

Changing your party food is a good start, but you could still be contributing to cavities when you dole out candy from your front door. There are ways you can offer better choices and still stay in the Halloween spirit.

The most effective alternative? Don’t offer candy at all. Children will also be excited by novelty toys, perhaps even more so simply because they’re unique type. Younger kids will be pleased with yo-yos, fun erasers, whistles, toy cars, or stickers. For the older demographic, you may want to include bracelets or temporary tattoos.

Some people feel that candy is necessary to fully appreciate Halloween. While we disagree, there are some ways you can be smarter about your selection. “Fun size” candies are one such option. Children consume much less sugar in two small bars than one whole one. If you give them less sugar overall, they’re going to do less damage to their teeth.

The type of candy matters too. Milk chocolate is laden with sugar (about 49% is pure sugar). Although less popular, semi-sweet and dark chocolate options contain much less sugar and are easier on the mouth. All chocolates are better than sticky hard candies, however. Chocolate dissolves easily, while other types stick inside the teeth—sometimes for several hours or even days. The longer the sugar is in contact with the tooth, the more damage is done. We recommend “easily dissolvable” treats any time you decide to give candy.

Sugarless candy is a substitute that’s gained popularity in recent years. Many parents feel much less guilty about handing it out to children, and it’s much better for your teeth. You may want to exercise caution, however, and opt for more natural treats, since California is considering a cancer warning for aspartame (one of the most common sweeteners).

Smart Methods for Eating Candy

Even if you’re a highly cautious parent, your child will probably end up with candy that’s full of processed sugars. If this is the case, there’s no reason for extreme measures—like throwing out his or her haul. Instead, there are two simple tips for consuming candy in the safest way possible:

Eat in moderation. This is perhaps the most important tip for your dental and overall physical health. We recommend you eat no more than a couple of fun-sized candy bars (or the equivalent) per day. Lower quantities of candy will help stabilize your blood and reduce the amount of sugar in your mouth.

Rinse well. Drinking water immediately after eating candy can wash away the majority of the residual sugar. If you rinse after each piece, you’ll be much less likely to see any sort of harmful buildup.

This Halloween, make smart choices and practice moderation to your advantage. If you have any questions about dental health, give us a call at (415) 706-7687.

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