Halloween is just around the corner and Americans will spend over two billion dollars on candy for the occasion. Although everyone knows that most candy is bad for your teeth, there are certain precautions you can take to mitigate a lot of the damage. For example, knowing what kinds of candies pose the least threat to your smile is one way to keep it healthy. Discover that and other useful tips for keeping your smile healthy this Halloween.
1. Choose These 3 Types of Candy
Not all candies are created equally and these three will cause the least harm to your smile. Those safe variations of candy are as follows:
- Sugar-free Candy
- Dark Chocolate
- Creamy Chocolates
For reasons that include the secret ingredient in cocoa that helps your teeth and the fact that creamy chocolates melt off your teeth easier, those three types of candy will do far less harm to your teeth than others this Halloween.
2. Drink Lots of Water
Drinking water will not only keep you full, decreasing the amount of candy you want to consume, but it will wash your teeth of sugar, food particles, and debris. By simply keeping a water bottle handy and drinking after every few pieces of candy, you can minimize a lot of the damage to your teeth.
3. Include Some Healthy Snacks
While it’s likely that candy will be on everyone’s diet plan this Halloween, it doesn’t have to be the ONLY thing you eat. If your kids are pouring their pumpkin-shaped buckets out to feast on their piles of candy, you can help their teeth greatly by offering healthy alternatives that they like. Here are some examples of tempting healthy snacks your kids might eat along with their candy:
- Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches
- Yogurt
- Halo Top or other low sugar ice creams
- Veggie Sticks with Ranch Dip
- Slices of their favorite fruit
Happy Halloween from Our Team in Encinitas, CA
Whether you’re a chaperone for young trick-or-treaters or you’re going to the biggest party in your city, Halloween is a time of costumes, fun, and of course, candy. By following some simple tips, you can ensure that your smile doesn’t suffer from the perils of sugary candy. If you do happen to get a toothache after the holiday is over, schedule an appointment with Dr. Diane Sherman and see how we can improve your smile – Contact us today!