1401 W INNES STWednesday, October 30, 2013
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
It's that time of year again! Trick-or-treating is a lot of fun, and who doesn't enjoy filling up a bag with candy? Of course we all know that Halloween candy isn't the healthiest thing in the world, and it's hard to think of an event that is more associated with tooth cavities. Let's be honest though - we aren't going to throw out all that candy, so here are a few simple things that can be done to minimize the risk of getting cavities.
- Get rid of some of the candy
Your children probably ended up with more candy than you really want them to eat. Have them go through their collection and set aside the pieces they really want, then package up the rest for donation. There are several donation websites that will take extra candy and send it to members of the military stationed overseas. Here are two:
www.operationshoebox.com
www.operationgratitude.com
There may also be local options for Halloween candy donations in your area.
- Don't munch
It's better for your teeth to eat a lot of candy all at one time rather than eating one piece at a time throughout the day (though you might end up with a stomachache!). Try to avoid going back to the candy stash again and again during the day - eat several pieces at once (ideally right before or after a meal) and then be done. Cavities take a long time to develop, so indulging once in a while is pretty safe. Problems are much more likely to occur when there is a constant exposure to sugar in the mouth.
- Rinse your mouth afterward
One of the problems with candy is that it tends to be sticky. This means that the sugar from candy stays on the teeth for a long time after it's eaten. The longer the sugar from the candy stays in the mouth, the longer your teeth are at risk for developing cavities - this is the same reason why it's better to eat lots of candy at one time instead of spreading it throughout the day. Rinsing your mouth with plain water and spitting after you've eaten candy will help to remove some of the sugar that is left behind after you're done eating.
The bottom line: The candy that gets passed out at Halloween can be a contributor to cavities, but with a little bit of care, you can still enjoy the spoils of trick-or-treating and not be worried.
- Don't munch
It's better for your teeth to eat a lot of candy all at one time rather than eating one piece at a time throughout the day (though you might end up with a stomachache!). Try to avoid going back to the candy stash again and again during the day - eat several pieces at once (ideally right before or after a meal) and then be done. Cavities take a long time to develop, so indulging once in a while is pretty safe. Problems are much more likely to occur when there is a constant exposure to sugar in the mouth.
- Rinse your mouth afterward
One of the problems with candy is that it tends to be sticky. This means that the sugar from candy stays on the teeth for a long time after it's eaten. The longer the sugar from the candy stays in the mouth, the longer your teeth are at risk for developing cavities - this is the same reason why it's better to eat lots of candy at one time instead of spreading it throughout the day. Rinsing your mouth with plain water and spitting after you've eaten candy will help to remove some of the sugar that is left behind after you're done eating.
The bottom line: The candy that gets passed out at Halloween can be a contributor to cavities, but with a little bit of care, you can still enjoy the spoils of trick-or-treating and not be worried.