Halloween can be pretty scary for your smile, thanks to all of the candy that is typically consumed. Fortunately, it only requires making a few small changes so that Halloween is safe for your smile. 

Check out our dentists’ advice:

  • Establish clear rules before the fun starts
  • Avoid the scariest kinds of treats
  • Hand out non-candy treats
  • Donate your surplus candy

Halloween is also a good time to think about scheduling exams for your family before your calendar begins filling with holiday events. Call Butte Family Dental today at 406-565-4458 to make appointments. 

Establish Rules Before the Fun Starts

Work together with your kids to create clear rules around their candy consumption. For example, make a list of unacceptable candies that you’ll want to remove from their piles. You can suggest substituting small toys, healthier treats, or cash for these candies. It’s also a good idea to set limits on their daily consumption. So, for example, your kids can have three pieces of candy after dinner every night.

The most important thing is to have these rules in place before any candy comes home. Your children will be much more likely to observe rules when they’ve agreed upon them in advance. 

Avoid the Scariest Treats to Keep Your Kids’ Smiles Safe

Some treats are more harmful than others. To keep Halloween safe for your smile, you should avoid sour candy like gummies and suckers, hard candy such as jawbreakers and toffee, and sticky treats like caramels and taffy. 

We’ve had to fix quite a few fillings and other restorations after they were damaged by chewy and sticky foods. These treats also cling stubbornly to your kids’ teeth. When bacteria in their mouths feeds on sugar in the candy, it forms acid that eats away at tooth enamel. Hard candies are also damaging to teeth and restorations if your child bites down on them. 

Candy bars and other chocolate treats are a healthier choice. Soft chocolate dissolves fast and gets washed away by saliva, so it’s less likely to result in cavities.

Give Out Non-Candy Treats  

Remember, you don’t have to give out candy to trick-or-treaters. There are plenty of healthier options:

  • Chocolate-covered nuts or raisins
  • Fruit snacks
  • Sugar-free gum
  • Juice boxes (100 percent juice is especially good)
  • Small bags of crackers or pretzels

You can also find fun items like these at party or discount stores:

  • Temporary tattoos
  • Glow bracelets or glow sticks
  • Small puzzles and games
  • Stickers
  • Bubbles
  • Colorful erasers

Find Good Uses for Leftover Halloween Candy

You will almost certainly have surplus candy. One of the best uses for it is sending it to soldiers. Two organizations who do this are:

  • Operation Gratitude – This organization has been sharing candy with soldiers since 2007.
  • Soldiers’ Angels – This organization partners with local businesses to collect the candy and then distributes it to troops. You can find locations near you on their website. 

Your extra candy also comes in handy for holiday decorating. It won’t be long before you’ll be setting tables for Thanksgiving and Christmas. There are plenty of ideas online for using candy to create special holiday treats. Leftover candy can be used for construction materials for gingerbread houses, for example. 

To make appointments for your family at Butte Family Dental, call us today at 406-565-4458.