I’ve been a dentist for 41 years — 7 rules I have for my children, including a fun Halloween tradition

It’s truthful difficult to Reese-ist!

The mean American eats 3.4 pounds of candy astir Halloween each year, pinch kids consuming 7,000 calories and 3 cups of sweetener connected nan holiday, research shows.

Now, a California dentist pinch decades of acquisition is sharing his seven rules for protecting his children’s teeth, connected Halloween and beyond.

Dr. Mark Burhenne’s first norm is simple: “If you eat candy, rinse pinch h2o to dislodge nan sticky parts.”

Drinking h2o aft eating sweets tin thief rinse your teeth of sweetener and residue. However, brushing your teeth instantly aft eating candy aliases different sugary foods tin harm your enamel.

When it comes to your teeth, not each Halloween candy is created equal.

Hard candy for illustration Jolly Ranchers and Life Savers tin spot aliases ace teeth if bitten down on. Chocolate, peculiarly anti-oxidant-rich acheronian chocolate, is simply a much mouth-friendly indulgence arsenic it dissolves quickly and is little apt to get stuck connected aliases betwixt teeth.

Burhenne said that peanut food is banished successful his family — his kiddos are only allowed to devour almond butter.

The logic for nan spreadable substitute? Almond food is little sticky and contains 7 times much calcium than peanut butter, meaning it strengthens teeth and is little apt to lend to plaque buildup.

Another portion of parental dental proposal courtesy of Burhenne is to person your children deterioration their Invisalign — clear integrative trays that gradually straighten teeth — while playing sports.

“Wear your Invisalign while playing soccer, upland biking and immoderate different sports to protect your teeth from breaking,” he advised.

He besides recommends chewing xylitol gum betwixt meals, “especially aft a repast pinch processed refined carbohydrates.”

Xylitol, a people occurring sweetener intoxicant utilized by gum brands specified as Orbit and Trident, has been shown to trim nan maturation of germs powerfully linked to gum illness and alteration inflammation successful gum tissues.

The sweetener substitute is not without downsides — researchers person found high levels of xylitol can summation nan consequence of heart onslaught and stroke, origin digestive problems like state and diarrhea and be deadly for dogs.

Burhenne besides stressed that he ne'er lets his children usage their teeth arsenic tools, “No ripping unfastened packages aliases opening soda bottles pinch teeth EVER.”

Using your teeth arsenic devices tin harm enamel, making nan teeth much prone to cavities. This behaviour tin besides trim nan gums, while unit tin lead to chipping, cracking, and, successful immoderate cases, bony loss.

And for sleepy kids who struggle to floss and brushwood earlier bed, Burhenne suggested keeping a toothbrush and flossing instrumentality connected nan nightstand to guarantee nan patient wont is successful easy reach.

Finally, and successful grant of nan tone of costumed, candy-induced decadence, Burhenne recommended letting state reign connected All Hallows’ Eve…within reason.

“Eat immoderate candy you want connected Halloween night, but nan remainder goes connected nan structure for nan Great Pumpkin to return and switch pinch a toy,” he said.

Other experts echo Burhenne’s all-in attack to Halloween candy.

Abbey Sharp, a registered dietitian based successful Toronto, advises giving children “unlimited access” to Halloween candy, insisting it’s really a awesome measurement to shape bully habits.

Sharp explained connected TikTok that she’s much focused connected having her kids build patient relationships pinch nutrient than restricting them connected a vacation that celebrates sweets.

“If you aliases your kids are typically restricting sugar, they astir apt will overeat. And that is wholly fine. That’s a teachable infinitesimal for them to consciousness that sensation successful their body,” she told her 990,000 TikTok followers successful 2023.