Halloween is full of tricks and treats, and it's the one night where kids are encouraged to go crazy with their candy consumption. While a night of endless candy is fine once a year, it can still be worrisome for their dental health. Luckily, you and your kids can follow these simple tips to scare away cavities this Halloween!
More Candy in Less Time
While eating too much candy at once may upset your stomach, it's actually better for your teeth! Spacing out your candy consumption throughout the day means that more sugar will rest on your teeth which can lead to cavities down the road. Instead of snacking every hour, have your candy after dinner so that you can brush everything away a few hours later.
Wash Away the Sugar
After candy, you should swish water around in your mouth to prevent the sugar from settling. While brushing is optimal, it's not always possible to brush especially when at work or class. Swishing water around will help to prevent plaque from forming.
Brushing and Flossing
Children and adults should both brush at least twice a day and floss before bed. Brush for at least two minutes with equal time spent on all quadrants, and avoid brushing too hard since this can upset the gums. Flossing at night will help to break up bacteria before it turns into plaque, and it will also remove any extra bits of candy from between the teeth.
Fluoride for Children and Adults
All of these tips will help everyone prevent plaque and future cavities, but children and adults should use fluoride in different amounts. A children's toothpaste will contain less fluoride in case of accidentally digestion. However, fluoride is essential for re-mineralization which can help prevent and even reverse small amounts of decay.
Visiting the Dentist
Seeing the dentist after Halloween can help to remove excess plaque, get additional fluoride, and ensure that you and your kid's teeth are healthy for years to come! Of course, there's never a bad time to visit the dentist! By following these tips, you can enjoy candy all throughout October without worrying about your teeth!
Donate Your Candy
Better yet, why don't you donate your candy to us! November 1st. Dr. Brown will be paying top dollar—$1 a pound—to all ghosts and ghouls for their Halloween candy. “But what happens with these tasty treats?” you ask. We’ll be sending your candy to the brave men and women on the front lines through Operation Gratitude, an organization that sends care packages from home to our troops.
We won’t just pay out for your Halloween-haul, we’re also holding a raffle for some fantastic prizes. Larry Gebert will be on buyback duty from 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM, so come on by for this sweets-selling spooktacular event!