Keeping Your Sweet Tooth Under Control Around Halloween: 4 Useful Tips

While Halloween can be a fun time for your whole family, it can potentially be quite frightening for your smile. All the candy that’s associated with the holiday can make it all too easy to indulge in sweets more than you normally would – and that could ultimately lead to cavities. Fortunately, your preventive dentist has 4 tips for managing your sweet tooth once trick-or-treating is over.

1. Only Eat Candy at Specific Times

When you have a bucket full of Halloween candy, it’s all too tempting to reach in and pull out a sweet treat whenever you want. However, constantly snacking on candy means that the bacteria living in your mouth will spend more time exposed to sugar, causing them to produce acids that can weaken your enamel. It’s safer to enjoy candy in moderation by eating it at specific times during the day.

The best time to eat Halloween candy – or anything else that’s high in sugar – is during or right after lunch or dinner. During meals, your mouth produces more saliva that can restore the pH balance of your mouth and keep your teeth clean.

2. Be Choosy About the Candy You Eat

Some types of candy are safer for your smile than others. For example, chocolates tend to dissolve quickly and thus don’t spend too much time in your mouth; on the other hand, sticky treats such as caramel may end up staying on your teeth longer than you realize. When snacking on candy, try to stick to the more tooth-friendly options as much as possible.

3. Give Away Some of Your Candy

It’s much easier to control your craving for sweets when you remove the source of your temptation. It’s often a good idea to go through your Halloween candy and set aside the treats that you definitely want to keep. Then, take the rest and donate it to an organization such as Treats for Troops or Operation Shoebox. That way, it won’t go to waste, but you also won’t need to worry about the impact it might have on your grin.

4. Make a Point of Taking Care of Your Smile

Giving your teeth and gums the right kind of care is more important than ever when you’re eating more candy than usual. Make sure that you’re practicing all the right habits, such as:

• Drinking lots of water throughout the day. (This helps rinse away any sugar that may be lingering in your mouth.)
• Brushing at least two times a day.
• Flossing on a daily basis.

By following the above tips, you can keep your smile cavity-free in the days after Halloween. Of course, if you have any concerns about your oral health, you can always schedule a visit to your dentist.

About the Author

Dr. Stephanie Lacquaniti went to the University of Florida College of Dentistry for her dental education, and she has completed courses at SPEAR Education as well as local study clubs throughout Lake County. Her Mount Dora practice, Lacquaniti Dental, accepts patients of all ages. To schedule a checkup with Dr. Lacquaniti before or after Halloween, visit her website or call (352) 383-8121.