It’s that time of year again. Cooler air, pumpkin spice (everything!) and Halloween. From dressing up in costumes, trick or treating and of course endless amounts of candy, there are many reasons to love this holiday. In fact, many dentists love Halloween too!
Eating a piece of candy is not necessarily a bad thing. Research shows that eating a piece of chocolate releases endorphins to the brain, which are hormones that make us feel happy. As dentists we want our patients to enjoy the holiday, but to also be cautious when eating lots of candy and sweets. So we’ve put together a few helpful dental tips so you can have a very ‘spooktacular’ Halloween.
Sugar is the #1 ingredient in the majority of the candy we consume on Halloween. Consuming a lot of sugar is one of the biggest factors in contributing to tooth decay and cavities. A good dental hygiene tip is to avoid hard and sticky candies. These types of candy have the highest amounts of sugar and are known for getting stuck in teeth. This can act a source of nutrition for bacteria that can cause tooth decay. If you do eat these candies on Halloween, rinse your mouth out with water and make sure to brush your teeth extra well.
Eating dinner before trick or treating will help reduce cravings for sweets or filling up on snacks. Plus, a yummy dinner will fuel up the tiny trick or treaters ready to go door to door!
Once Halloween is over, what should you do with your leftover candy? One idea is to donate your candy to local organizations that offer a candy buy back. Southernmost Smiles is happy to take any leftover candy in exchange for a fluoride varnish treatment.
We hope you find these tips helpful and have a safe and very Happy Halloween! Happy trick or treating!
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