For parents, the scariest thing about Halloween is the potential risk of cavities your kids might get from eating all that candy!
Since spooky season is right around the corner, we thought we’d share some Halloween dental tips for a healthy Halloween so your kids can enjoy their treats, without having to worry about them getting a bunch of cavities.
Consume Your Candy Carefully
Set expectations with your kids before Halloween about how much candy they will be allowed to eat each day. Once they get home from trick or treating, the excitement of having all that candy in front of them will make it impossible to reason with them. 
We recommend staying away from sticky candies such as gummy bears, caramels, and taffy. These types of candy can often get stuck between the teeth for long periods, causing tooth decay to occur faster. The best candies for your teeth are chocolate, sugar-free candy, and candy with nuts.
Drink More Water
Drinking water helps wash away any sugars clinging to your teeth and balances the pH levels in your mouth. If you drink bottled water, check for kinds that are fluoridated.
At the same time, encourage your kids to avoid drinks with added sugar in them if they’re going to eat candy! If their teeth are coming into contact with more sugar than usual, you want to find some way to balance the sugar intake.
Maintain a Balanced Diet
Halloween is a special time of year when everyone’s candy intake is elevated, adults included! It’s important to maintain a balanced diet to ensure your kids are not overindulging in sweets.
Encourage them to eat a small portion of candy with their lunch and dinner, instead of eating a bunch of candy throughout the day or right before bed!
Brush Your Teeth Twice a Day
Although this should be done all year round, it can be tricky getting your kids to stick to a strict oral hygiene schedule. To avoid the risk of cavities as much as possible, your best defence is brushing twice a day. 
Encourage your kids to brush their teeth soon after eating their candy. This way, they can remove the sugars and harmful bacteria as soon as possible.
Floss Daily
The sugar from candies can get in between your kid’s teeth. If they’re going to be eating candy almost daily, you’ll want to make sure you’re taking the proper precautions. Flossing will remove any candy that may have gotten stuck between your teeth.
Leaving candy debris between your teeth encourages tooth decay, so make sure you’re removing it soon after they eat their candy.
Keep Your Smile Healthy this Halloween
We love Halloween at Skyline Dental in Nepean! However, we also don’t want parents stressing about their kids getting cavities.
Book a dental cleaning for your kids following Halloween for peace of mind knowing no cavities are developing. As a trusted family dentist in Ottawa, we are happy to work with you and your kids to help maintain the best possible oral health.
If you have any questions about our services or are interested in more Halloween dental tips, don’t hesitate to contact our team!