Your child will most likely receive more treats
than tricks this Halloween. Candy can be enjoyed in reasonable amounts,
provided that sugar is not left on teeth and cavity-causing bacteria
is addressed. Sticky foods and candy are the most likely to cause
tooth decay. Even fructose from bananas, maltose from milk, or sucrose
from candy can cause decay if they are allowed to remain on teeth.
A healthy alternative to candy and sweets is non-traditional trick
or treat items such as crayon packs, sugarless gum, small toys such
as balls and planes.
Here are a few tips to assure that your child’s Halloween
is as healthy and safe as possible.
Inspect and sort the treats prior to
your child eating them
Remove and discard hard candies. Hard
candies remain in the mouth for an extended time and are more
likely to promote tooth decay. These candies also may cause a
young child to choke or chip a tooth.
Promote sugar-free brands of chewing
gum and avoid sticky candies. Sticky candies may damage dental
work, such as fillings, braces, bridges and retainers.
Brush your teeth immediately after eating
candy. This will help reduce the sugar that is left on the teeth.
Even if your child is unable to brush
his/her teeth immediately after eating candy, it is of the utmost
importance that the teeth are brushed prior to going to sleep.
If sticky surgery foods are left on the teeth overnight, it is
a recipe for tooth decay.
