Halloween Candy and Cavities: Smart Ways to Protect Your Child’s Teeth
Halloween is a spooky season in more ways than one; it puts your child’s teeth at extra risk for decay. Fortunately, with some proactivity, you can dramatically lower that risk.
5 Oral Hygiene Tips for the Holiday Season
Halloween’s behind us — but that doesn’t mean the sugar-filled time of year is. From candied yams and pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving to all of the treats that traditionally come with December’s holidays, the sweets just keep coming.
That makes it a fun time of year for kids, but a particularly risky one for their oral health. That’s why Irene Zaki, DDS, and our Happy Teeth Children’s Dentistry team developed this guide. Pair these tips with the pediatric dentistry services available at our office in Riverside, California, and you’ll protect your child’s oral health this holiday season.
#1: Be strategic about your sweets
This time of year is chock-full of sugary treats. They’re a key part of the season, and you don’t want to rob your child of enjoying all the holidays have to offer. Fortunately, you can find a balance here by being smart about the kind of sweets they eat.
Anything sticky is more likely to adhere to their teeth, feeding plaque and causing decay. That makes options like caramels or candy canes high-risk. Chocolate is generally a better option.
#2: Consider sealants
If you’re worried about your child’s tooth decay, this is a great time of year to give yourself the gift of more peace of mind.
With sealants, Dr. Zaki puts a protective coating over the grooves of your child’s molars, where plaque is likely to get trapped and you or your child might have a hard time brushing it away. They help prevent 80% of cavities in the back teeth, where nine in 10 cavities occur.
#3: Keep a water bottle handy
You might not always be able to get your child to a toothbrush right after they eat sweets, but you can encourage them to drink some water. It won’t get rid of all sugars in their mouth, but taking a few big drinks helps to wash some of them away.
#4: Stuff smartly
If your family does holiday stockings, choose what you use to fill it carefully. Lots of parents use candy, but all of that sugar can take a toll on your child’s teeth. Soft items like small plush toys or new socks can help you fill the space.
You might even consider getting them a new toothbrush featuring a character they love. That might make brushing more fun.
#5: Schedule a cleaning in the new year
Even the most diligent parents have a hard time keeping up with all of the plaque-feeding treats that come with this time of year. Fortunately, if you schedule a cleaning with Dr. Zaki early in 2026, she can remove any plaque and tartar that built up through this sugary time of year.
That gives harmful bacteria less time to eat away at your child’s teeth, helping you protect their oral health in the new year and beyond. To schedule a cleaning for your child, call our team at Happy Teeth Children’s Dentistry or book it online today.
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