Halloween: the exciting night where costumed children knock door to door and collect more candy than Willy Wonka himself. Now, we hate to be the bearer of bad news, but trick-or-treating can be a frightening time for your child’s teeth. The good news is – it doesn’t have to be.
We already know that consuming too many sugary snacks can increase your risk of plaque build-up and that sticky, hard and sour candy can be some of the worst offenders for tooth decay. But did you know that some sweets are actually worse than others? With a little help, you and your family can make smarter candy selections and reduce risk of cavities and keep your teeth healthy.
So when it comes to selecting a better alternative, here are some tips:
- Choose hollow chocolate. Lower your exposure to sugar, by eating a smaller serving.
- Opt for sugar free candy. Less sugar, means less chance of decay.
- Stick to dark chocolate. Some may say that dark chocolate contains antioxidants that may help with the effects of tooth decay.
- Pick any chocolate. If you can’t eat dark chocolate, any chocolate may also be a better choice as it is one of the easier candies to wash off your teeth.
- Select candy that contains nuts. Nuts can break up sugary consistency.
As always, we recommending brushing your teeth immediately after consuming sugary snacks, keeping floss handy (especially if you indulge on a caramel popcorn ball or two) and eating all candy in moderation.
Happy Halloween everyone!