Candy Substitutes for Halloween

Whether it’s Halloween, Thanksgiving, or Christmas, there are plenty of sweet treats to go around. This is also the time where many people may see a decline in their dental hygiene, with kids being the most susceptible to dental problems. For any dental needs you may have, including dental crowns in Los Angeles, be sure to talk to Samaritan Dental and schedule an appointment today.

Statistics About Halloween and Your Teeth

Halloween is a great time to dress up and enjoy some well-deserved treats, but it is important to know the risks involved with that sack full of candy. Because bacteria loves to feed off that sugar that you are feeding on, there is an increased risk of dental problems during the Halloween season, especially due to all the candy readily available. Three of the most prominent dental problems that are seen during Halloween are cavities, infected teeth, and gum disease. You may also experience problems with previous fillings and crowns that you have. Because of the increased risk to your dental health, be sure to contact a dental professional at the first sign of symptoms. Samaritan Dental can help you with all your dental needs, including dental crowns in Los Angeles.

Candy Alternatives for Halloween

There are many reasons why you may want to elect to give out substitutes for candy during Halloween this year, but the trick is to find an alternative that kids actually like. First, try giving them something other than an edible treat. It doesn’t say anywhere in the Halloween handbook that a “treat” is solely something you can eat. Things such as little toys, bouncy balls, mini flashlights, stickers, coloring books, bubbles, novelty gag gifts, and spooky jewelry are just some ideas for fun, non-candy treats. There are plenty of alternatives that are edible as well, including honey sticks, organic candy, trail mix, oranges, popcorn packs, pretzels, and even snack packs with a bunch of these things together. Ultimately, the goal is to find something with significantly less sugar so you are not adding to the problem, but also being something enjoyable that kids want. And the added benefit is that without the candy in the house, the adults are being better about their dental health as well.

Tips and Tricks to Keep Dental Health in Check During Halloween

According to the American Dental Association, there are a bunch of tips and tricks that you can use to be safer with your teeth this Halloween season.

• Eating candy is alright as a treat, but be careful not to snack throughout the day, choose candy that doesn’t sit in your mouth for a long time, and eating your sweet treat directly after or during a meal will help cancel out the acids produced by bacteria that can harm your teeth.
• If you are going to enjoy some candy during the Halloween season, be sure to maintain a healthy diet the rest of the time, drink more water than normal to prevent tooth decay, and do not tempt yourself by buying more candy than you need.
• Two things you should avoid if you are going to treat yourself to candy is sugary drinks, such as soda and sports drinks, and sticky candy.
• Brush your teeth twice a day, and floss once a day to be sure that sugar does not get more time to prey on your teeth.

Halloween can be an extremely fun time as long as you enjoy candy in moderation, and don’t take your teeth’s health for granted. Scheduling routine appointments with your dentist is a great way to make sure that you do not run into any tooth trouble. Samaritan Dental offers many services to help your family, including dental crowns in Los Angeles; contact us today to schedule an appointment and keep your teeth as healthy as can be!