For many parents, the scariest thing about Halloween is all the candy their children bring home after trick-or-treating. But our dentists in Ann Arbor, MI, like to encourage parents to look at the bigger picture. Your children will only be able to trick-or-treat for a few precious years. Let them enjoy the magic of Halloween night while they can. (And take lots of pictures!)
How to Enjoy a Cavity-Free Halloween with Your Kids
That being said, here’s how to enjoy a with your kids.
Prepare a Healthy Meal Before Trick-or-Treating
Your child will eat less candy if they’re trick-or-treating on a full stomach. That’s why we recommend feeding them a healthy nutritious meal before trick-or-treating. Also, keep in mind that healthy doesn’t have to mean boring. For example, you could make stuffed peppers and carve out little jack o’lantern faces to make them fun.
Getting your children involved with the cooking will help keep them busy while enjoying the festivities to the fullest. At the end of the day, you’re not just making a meal with your children—you’re making memories.
Remember to Practice Good Oral Hygiene
This tip isn’t specific to Halloween but with all of the excitement of trick-or-treating, it can be easy to forget brushing and flossing. As usual, make sure that your child continues to brush their teeth for two minutes at a time twice a day. They should also be flossing their teeth once a day to remove any plaque or food particles caught between teeth.
If you have a young child, you’ll need to brush and floss their teeth for them. In general we recommend that parents brush and floss their children’s teeth until they’re able to tie their own shoes. This is typically around age six. But even after age six, you’ll still need to supervise your child to ensure they’re brushing their teeth properly and for long enough.
An easy way to do this is to have an oral hygiene routine where you and your child brush your teeth together. This also helps you set a good example for your child by showing them that taking care of their teeth and gums is a normal part of daily life.
Related: What is Preventive Dentistry? →
Let Your Children Enjoy Their Loot
The more you try to control your child’s candy, the more they’ll obsess over it. When you turn Halloween candy into “forbidden fruit,” it’ll become all they think about.
A much better solution is to let your child eat as much candy as they want on Halloween night, then enforce healthy limits starting November 1st. For example, you can limit their candy to two pieces at mealtimes.
When you treat candy like it’s not a big deal, you take away its power. That’s why this advice makes our list of .
Celebrate a Cavity-Free Halloween This Year
Is your child due for their next teeth cleaning? Our , are accepting new patients and would be more than happy to help your child enjoy a cavity-free Halloween. To schedule an appointment for either you or your child, please call Enhance Family Dentistry & Orthodontics at (734) 821-7676. You may also fill out our online contact form and someone from our team will reach out to you soon.
This blog post has been updated.
