I’m pretty sure I’m one of the few kids in the world who didn’t love trick-or-treating. I mean, how weird is that? While all the other kids were running pell-mell from house to house trying to get as much candy as possible, I just wasn’t into it. I think the year I was 10, I stopped going out entirely. But let’s be honest, I had come up with a MUCH better system of getting the goods. While my friends got bundled up for hours of waddling around in the freezing cold, I stayed in my warm house and helped “pass out” the goods. One for you, one for me… All night long, I set aside my stash. That way I got just as much candy as my friends without having to beg for it. And let’s be honest, my mom got the good stuff. No wimpy Smarties or lollipops for me! I got 100% pure chocolate. I might just be a Halloween genius! The only problem with this little system was that I ended up with a stash that lasted until Christmas. Now, as a 10 year old, that wasn’t so much of a problem as is was all my dreams coming true. However, in retrospect, I wasn’t really doing myself any favors.
According to WebMD, Moderation and rules are not characteristics we often associate with Halloween, but, say child health experts, the holiday can be a good time to teach your kids important lessons about nutrition and dental care. "In general, I tell parents that kids who eat many times a day are at higher risk of tooth decay," says Jim Steiner, DDS, "It's the kids who have access to…snacks all the time that are at high risk for tooth decay. It's that kind of chronic exposure that causes [cavities.]"
And that's why Halloween is a problem with the dental profession. Some children will hoard their favorite candies and eat them a little bit at a time over a long period of time. (Aww, nuts! That was totally me! ) And the truth is, as far as oral hygiene goes, it is better to eat five candy bars at once than to eat one every few hours. In the first scenario, acid will build up in your mouth, but your saliva will naturally neutralize this over the course of an hour or so. And then that acid is gone. In the second scenario, you are constantly exposing your teeth to acid throughout the day, too much for saliva to wash away.
So here are just a couple of suggestions to help your kids enjoy the holiday in healthy way (and not be a total Halloween killjoy!):
- After trick-or-treating, select an age appropriate amount of candy for each child to enjoy. Toss, trade-in, or donate the rest.
- Allow your child to enjoy their Halloween haul after meals or at set snack times. No secret noshing!
- Be sure to have your child brush their teeth thoroughly after indulging in sugary treats. It’s a good habit to have anyway!
Happy Halloween from the Matthews’ Dental Group!!
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