Did you know dentists choose chocolate as the best candy for your children to eat on Halloween?
“If you want to choose wisely, choose chocolate,” said Dr. Jed Jacobson, chief science officer and senior vice president of Delta Dental of Michigan. “Chocolate melts quickly so it isn’t as hazardous to dental work and it’s easier to brush away. Even better are the chocolates and candies with ingredients like Xylitol and Mannitol. They taste good and have been shown to reduce the risk of tooth decay in kids.“
Gummy and other sticky candies uproot fillings and hard candies and suckers lead to an acid attack on the teeth not only while they are in the mouth but for 20 minutes after eating them.
No matter what kind of treats your children receive this Halloween, following them up with a glass of water will help rinse the sugar away. Eating crunchy fruits and vegetables after candy also can help clean the teeth. Many a dentist near me will likely say similar things, or at the very least advise you to brush thoroughly after such treats.
To avoid the sugar overload from kids diving into their bags of goodies at the end of the night, Jacobson also recommends serving a healthy, nutritious meal before sending trick-or-treaters into the neighborhood. That way, they won’t be as hungry when they return with a bag full of sweets.
Parents also should consider giving their kids a brand new toothbrush as their Halloween treat at the end of the evening so that they are excited to brush and know how important brushing is to their health.
“Give kids a new, brightly colored toothbrush to get ready for bedtime with,” Jacobson said. “Children should always brush before they go to bed, but it is even more important after eating sugary snacks.”
Courtney is the ultimate multitasking mom! She runs three blogs Giftfully Simple, The Digital Mommy and Detroit Mommies , is a Social Media Marketing Consultant and has 3 girls under 6 years old. Courtney is the founder of Detroit Mommies. You can follow her on Twitter @theappleofmyeye. She has worked with companies like Johnsons & Johnsons, Dove, e.l.f., Stride Rite, Sorel, 20th Century Fox, The Palace, Melissa & Doug, Panera and Tiny Prints (to name a few). Courtney is a Purex Insider and a Max Mom for Office Max.
