The joyous countdown to Halloween for the little ones has officially begun! Yes, Halloween is almost here! Only one more day until the residents of Tacoma will hear little door knocks and door bells. And although the kids are excited to dress up and collect a bag full of free candy, the gathered goods from Halloween night might make parents nervous and worry about the potential issues that can be caused with candy overload such as cavities, tummy aches and other health problems.
Here are Plancich Dental, your Tacoma Dentist specializing in holistic dental care for the entire family, we have a few tips on how everyone can enjoy Halloween in a healthy manner – dentist approved!
Avoid Sticky Situations
In the abundance of decadent sweet treats such as chocolate caramels, 
chewy gummy bears, and tart hard candies, we recommend that you and your family favor the chocolates! Hard candies sit in your mouth for quite sometime before you can actually digest it, which means the sugar has more time “marinate” your teeth and increase the risk of cavities and staining. Sticky candies like gummy bears cling onto your teeth and usually require a good brushing in order to really remove the sugary residue.
Enjoy Candy in Moderations and w/ Meals
Don’t eat all of the Halloween candy at soon as your get home from Trick-or-Treating! In fact, parents should check the bag of treats before the children have a chance to start digging in for any suspicious or hazardous “candies”. After the treats have the stamps of approval, talk to your children about portioning out the candy over time. Eat Halloween candy (and other sugary foods) with meals or shortly after mealtime. Saliva production increases during meals and helps cancel out acids produced by bacteria in your mouth and helps rinse away food particles.
Drink Plenty of Water
Along with the many health benefits of drinking water, it also can help prevent tooth decay! During or after you’ve enjoy some candy, drink a glass of water.
Brush Twice a Day
For two minutes, twice a day! Remember, replace your toothbrush every three or four months, or sooner if the bristles are frayed. A worn toothbrush won’t do a good job of cleaning your teeth.
Clean Between Your Teeth
Decay-causing bacteria get between teeth where toothbrush bristles can’t reach. Flossing your teeth once a day helps remove plaque and food particles from between the teeth and under the gum line.
Visit Your Tacoma Dentist
At Plancich Dental, we are a family-friendly dental office providing comprehensive dental care for patients of all ages. Regular visits to Plancich Dental can help prevent problems occurring and catch those that do occur early, when they are easy to “treat.” Call today to schedule your next appointment with your Tacoma Dentist for a check up and cleaning.
We hope you find these tips to be helpful this Halloween and for the Halloweens to come! If you have any questions, please feel free to call our office at 253-272-7400 for more information.
And have a happy & safe Halloween, everyone!
Source: Mouth Healthy, 10 Tips for a Healthy Halloween
photo credit: November 1, 2006: Treats! via photopin (license)