Halloween is right around the corner, and that can only mean one thing: lots and lots of candy. 

If you’re a parent, you may be feeling “spooked” about your child’s dental health going into the holiday season. After all, tooth decay is the most common chronic disease among children—and children who develop cavities in their baby teeth are more likely to develop cavities in their permanent teeth later in life. 

Trick or treating brings lots of sweets, but the holiday fun doesn’t have to bring out the tooth decay monster. Thankfully, with regular dental cleanings and excellent preventative dentistry habits, your little goblins can enjoy their Halloween treats in moderation without having to worry. 

Preventing Cavities and Tooth Decay in Children

As your Lockport pediatric dentist, we want the very best for your child’s smile. While Halloween can be a tricky time with extra sugar around every turn, we also don’t think you should completely deny your child the chance to enjoy seasonal treats and trick or treating with their friends. The key to keeping baby teeth healthy is to ensure your child visits the dentist often and practices healthy habits at home. 

Dental sealants are a great way to add an extra layer of protection to your child’s smile and make it harder for bacteria to harm their teeth. At Dentistry by Dr. Kaplansky, we can apply dental sealants periodically for a very low cost! When combined with regular dental cleanings, sealants will keep cavities at bay. 

As long as your family makes regular visits to see our Lockport pediatric dentist, brushes and flosses your teeth regularly, and drinks plenty of water after eating, there’s no reason everyone can’t enjoy a few pieces of Halloween candy now and then.

Recognizing “Trick”ier Candies

While no amount of sugar is good for your teeth, certain candies are frightening enough to send the boogeyman running. If your child is going to indulge in Halloween candy, try limiting these specific types:

Sour candy, which is typically loaded with acids that break down tooth enamel (think Sour Patch Kids, Sour Punch Straws, and Sour Skittles)

Hard candies, which linger in the mouth longer and send more sugar directly to teeth (think Jolly Ranchers, jawbreakers, and Dum Dums)

Sticky candies, which leave a residue that’s hard to remove from teeth (think caramels and taffies) 

Cleaning Your Child’s Teeth After Halloween

Once the Halloween festivities are over for another year, November is the perfect time to schedule a Lockport pediatric dental cleaning for your child. To keep their smile feeling healthy and looking white as a ghost, you can give us a call at (716) 772-7500 to get their next dental visit on the calendar!