Halloween, Candy, and the Dentist - Oh My!

Halloween, candy, and the dentist - oh my!

It's that time of year again. I begin to cringe. How do I, in good faith and commitment to my profession, give out Halloween candy at my door? One year I gave out glow sticks, and the kids were happy to take them and then ask, “ Where's the candy? “ If you give out pretzels, you might as well give out nothing. Goldfish or Teddy Grahams seem to be good alternatives for the younger crowd, but honestly this is a hard time of year for me and my fellow dentists, not only in Darien, CT, but everywhere.

We know you are going to eat the sweets, let's accept that. Even adults will do it, because you have to do something while you wait for the doorbell to ring. So let's try to make it as dentally healthy as possible.

To maintain good dental health on Halloween, limit consumption of sticky and hard candies, opting for chocolate instead as it's less harmful to teeth. Eat sweets with meals to increase saliva to wash away sugar and acid. Drink plenty of water to rinse your mouth and brush and floss your teeth after eating candy to remove food particles and prevent cavities. Consider setting limits on candy intake, choosing non-food treats, and donating excess candy to a Halloween candy buy-back program.

Choosing the Right Treats:

Candies like taffy and caramels cling to teeth, prolonging the time bacteria have to produce acid that causes cavities. Hard candies can chip teeth. Avoid sticky and hard candies! Melty candies like chocolate are a better choice because they dissolve faster and are less likely to stay on your teeth.   Sour candies are extremely acidic, with a very low pH, that can rapidly erode tooth enamel.

Eating Strategies:

Consuming candy after or with a meal increases saliva production, which helps to neutralize acids and wash away food particles from your teeth.  Limit your candy intake to one or two sessions to reduce your teeth's prolonged exposure to sugar.

Good Post-Treat Habits:

Water helps rinse away any leftover sugar and food particles from your mouth.  Brush your teeth for at least two minutes with fluoride toothpaste and floss to remove food particles from between teeth that the toothbrush can't reach.   Chewing sugarless gum, especially with xylitol, for 20 minutes after eating can help prevent tooth decay. My favorite is Icebreakers Ice Cubes Gum.

Other Helpful Tips:

Limit the stash: Don't keep a large amount of candy in the house. Give out non-candy treats: Offer small toys, stickers, or other fun, non-food items as alternatives to candy. As I said earlier, this doesn’t go over too well in my neighborhood, but you can try! Participate in candy buy-back programs: Donate your excess candy to organizations that send treats to troops or dentists who run candy buy-back programs.

And last but not least!!! Schedule a dental visit: A post-Halloween check-up can help ensure your teeth are healthy after indulging in sweets. We will be happy to see you at 5 Brook St here in Darien.

Happy Halloween !!!