The Spooky Truth About Halloween from a Pediatric Dentist

Halloween is bad for your teeth and as a pediatric dentist we have ways that you can protect yourself and your kids from getting cavities due to a sugar overload.  Sugar is bad for your teeth in any amount and when the kids are trick-or-treating or the office is throwing a party, it can be difficult to resist the urge to eat those cupcakes or indulge in a candy bar.  This places your teeth and gums at risk for getting an infection.

We understand that it isn’t easy to resist sweets but have several ways that you can encourage your kids to make healthier choices in a way that is so fun they won’t even notice it.

• Create your own haunted house.  Instead of going out trick-or-treating, create your own haunted house and surprise the kids walking by.  Get your own children involved in the planning process so that they can get excited to set everything up and startle the kids that are coming to your door.  While they won't be getting candy themselves, this can actually be far more fun and we would love to hear their stories at our pediatric dentist office. 
• Go out for a good time.  Instead of trick-or-treating, you can dress up in costume and go bowling or even out to dinner.  Ask your kids what they want to do and go to it in costume.  This is a funny way to have a good time and be festive without overloading on sugar. 
• Party all night.  Spend the evening by either hosting a party or going to a friend's party.  Have everyone dress up in costume and play games, give out prizes and dance the night away.  You can have a great time, and the kids will love it.  By throwing a party, you can control the foods that your kids eat and make sure that they don’t fill up on sugar. 
• Swap the candy for a toy.  You can give your kids a toy in trade for their big bag of candy.  It's much more fun to get a new toy and healthier too!  This is a great solution because it allows you to confiscate the candy without the struggle and tears. 

If you decide to go trick-or-treating, make sure that you don’t go on an empty stomach.  As a pediatric dentist, we recommend that you feed your kids a diet that is full of lean protein, veggies, dairy products and nuts.  This is good to eat every day and not just on Halloween.  By feeding your kids a large dinner that also contains complex carbs, they will feel full and not be tempted to snack on candy as they go.  This is important because if they are walking around hungry, they will instantly turn to candy, and this will only make them hungrier as the night goes on.  

After they have eaten a piece of candy, make sure to brush their teeth right away.  It is important to get sugar off of their teeth so that they aren’t at risk for cavities developing.  You can buy a special Halloween toothbrush to make this even more fun.