Halloween is a spooky time of year for not just trick-or-treaters, but dentists as well.
Here are some tips to help your children enjoy the holiday while making smart choices about Halloween sweets.
1. Consider being one of the 25% of people who hand out something other than candy: 22% give toys; 13% give money; 15% give fruit; 11% give pencils/erasers and 9% give popcorn. (Photo by Cozinhando / CC BY)
2. For you chocoholics, chocolate is one of the best to give and receive. Plain chocolate melts and comes off teeth quickly, decreasing the chance of cavities occurring.
3. Avoid sticky and chewy candies like taffy and caramels which stick to teeth longer, increasing the odds of cavities.
(Photo by Steven Depolo / CC BY)
4. Hard candy is also a no-no due to the prolonged exposure to sugar in your mouth
5. Don’t let your kids eat all of their candy at once. Eating a piece or two after a meal is best since the increased saliva produced during a meal helps wash away the sugary sweet.
6. Make sure your little monsters brush and floss before bed.
These Halloween tips apply to parents too!
84% of parents say their children participate in Halloween with 89% of parents allowing their kids to eat candy. 79% of parents admit to eating their kid’s Halloween candy (while the other 21% won’t admit it).
You might also like: Jimmy Kimmel’s “I Told My Kids I Ate All Their Halloween Candy 2013” (video)
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