A Healthy Halloween
Halloween is right around the corner, which means trick-or-treating and big bags of candy! We know kids will eat candy, and candy is alright in moderation. We certainly don’t want to take it all away because kids will want it that much more. We just don’t want candy to become a constant snacking habit. Parents, here are a few Halloween “tricks” to help limit candy consumption this Halloween season.
1. Fill up before trick-or-treating. A child who has a balanced meal before they go trick-or-treating will hopefully be tempted to eat fewer pieces of candy.
2. Extra candy should go in the freezer. Keep a few favorite pieces of candy out to have with a meal for example in a lunch or after dinner. Out of sight out of mind!
3. Limit availability of gummy or sticky candies. Sticky candies can get stuck in the grooves of children’s teeth and it is a prime spot for bacteria to have a party! Children should eat all gummy or sticky candy at once and not snack on it for a long period of time allowing their saliva time to re neutralize the enamel.
4. Clean between your teeth. Decay causing bacteria get between the teeth where toothbrush bristles can not reach. Flossing helps remove plaque and food particles from those hard to brush spaces.
5. Brush twice a day. After breakfast is an important time to brush because morning foods have a tendency to have more sugar content. However the most important time of the day to brush our teeth is before bed. Food and candy that may still be present will get brushed off before you go to sleep for the night, allowing for the longest period of time in a day your teeth are free from excess food and cavity causing bacteria. Enjoy candy in moderation and brush, brush, brush!
We hope everyone has a safe and Happy Halloween!
