Trick or Treat: How to Have a Healthy Halloween This Season

23 Sep Trick or Treat: How to Have a Healthy Halloween This Season

Halloween can be a slippery slope when it comes to proper dental care, but with these Halloween tips from the best NYC family dentist, you’ll have your healthiest Halloween yet. Sound too good to be true? If you know what to look for it is actually quite simple to spot the tricks in your child’s pile of treats. Here is the ultimate list of what to toss and what to keep this holiday.

Say No to Hard Candies

While it is common to think that sticky or chewy candies can do the most damage to your child’s teeth, it’s actually hard candies that are the biggest culprit. Hard candies put your child’s teeth in direct contact with a flood of sugar for a prolonged period of time, which can lead to increased acidity in the mouth and eventual tooth decay, cavities and more. If you do want to indulge, try to rinse your mouth with water every few minutes and follow up with a thorough tooth brushing when you are finished.

Sticky Candy Can Wreak Havoc on Your Teeth

Sticky candies, while delicious, can definitely do some serious damage to teeth if they get stuck in crevasses. This can lead to cavities and other unwanted dental issues. Make sure that you and your children fully chew your sticky candy and follow up with a healthy, crunchy snack like carrots, to help remove any lodged pieces from your teeth.

Chewing Gum Is A-Ok

It may be hard to believe, but chewing gum is actually a keeper on our Halloween tips list. Chewing gum stimulates saliva production, which can help flush away any unwanted bacteria or food particles. Just be mindful of the sugar content in your gum and opt for sugarless whenever possible.

Don’t Drink Your Candy

Sugary beverages like soda can be the biggest cavity culprit, especially during Halloween. Prolonged exposure to sugar leads to an increased risk of cavities and tooth decay. Choose water over sugar soda or sports drinks.

With these healthy Halloween tips from your NYC family dentist, we’re sure you and your kids will have a very happy Halloween. But just in case, it doesn’t hurt to keep us on speed-dial, should you have any unhealthy tricks in your bag of treats. And remember, healthy dental practices don’t stop on Halloween. Keep our Thanksgiving guide handy for healthy teeth through the year!