Conquering Candy
/There’s something contagious about the excitement of kids during the month of October. The Fall weather, the Halloween costumes, and massive amounts of candy… oh the mounds of candy! While I’m not a parent and won’t even attempt to pretend I’m an expert on the topic of parenting, I do know that Halloween candy can be a big stressor for parents. Consuming processed sugars not only has an impact on a child’s behavior, appetite, sleep, and general health, but it also contributes to dental issues! With that being said, I made it my mission to come up with some tips to deal with the dreaded Halloween candy invasion that is coming soon to a home near you.
In my quest for tips, I reached out to local dentist, Dr. Pickett of Pickett Family Dental, to see what his suggestions were for dealing with Halloween candy. Here’s what I learned:
Pickett Family Dental offers a candy buy-back each year. You can contact them directly to learn how to participate!
Come to peace with the idea that you may not be able to stop all intake of sweets, but know that it’s better for their teeth to eat more at once instead of spreading consumption out throughout the day.
Rinse with water, but do not brush for 30 mins afterwards because candy-eating makes the enamel softer for that amount of time.
Avoid sticky candy that’s acidic (sour). That’s the worse kind for decay.
In life, we are constantly faced with making the healthiest decision we can in a given situation or circumstance. A Halloween candy buy-back provides kids an opportunity to experience healthy decision-making and to reap the benefits of making a healthier choice! To find a Halloween candy buy-back near you, click here.
This article is a part of our October Newsletter. To check out the entire newsletter, click here.
