As Halloween approaches, we wanted to share a few ways that you and your loved ones can keep your healthy smile throughout the festivities. An abundance of candy can increase the bacteria in your mouth and put you at risk for cavities and gum disease. So whether you are taking your kids trick-or-treating or handing out candy, here are a few ways you can make teeth-friendly choices this year:

  • Avoid hard candies.

Hard candies are terrible for your teeth because they expose your teeth to more sugar over a lengthier period of time and can stick to your teeth, making it hard to remove. Plus, if you happen to bite down on a piece of hard candy, like jawbreakers, you might chip a tooth! 

  • Hand out non-candy treats.

If you are planning to greet trick-or-treaters, choose non-candy treats, such as small notebooks, pencils, or stickers with a Halloween theme. Not only does this help kids who potentially have allergies to most Halloween treats and cuts down on kids’ exposure to sweets, but it also prevents you from indulging on treats yourself.

  • Make it a day about more than candy.

One of the reasons kids love Halloween is all the festivities and fun that the day includes! So, make it a day about more than just candy. Find out ways your local community is having fun, whether it’s fall festivals, pumpkin patches, corn mazes, and more. By making it more than just a day about candy, you are helping your child pay attention to sweet treats less.

  • Plan to donate extra candy.

Many organizations send candy to troops overseas to give them little reminders of home. Talk to your kids before Halloween about sending out some extra candy to a non-profit organization. Solders’ Angels is one organization among many that accept donations and will ship on your behalf.

  • Visit us for a checkup.

If you haven’t had your dental checkup in the last six months, make sure you have one scheduled soon after Halloween! We can even see your family members all at the same time for a more convenient checkup.

Call 909-989-5598 or schedule online to make an appointment at Jia Y. Lee, DDS in Rancho Cucamonga, CA.