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Countdown to Treats, Watch Out for Sweets!

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Countdown to Treats, Watch Out for Sweets!

With Halloween just a few days away, remember that though sweets are enticing and fun to eat, you need to safeguard your teeth.  Too much sugar isn’t just bad for your body, but it can wreak havoc on your smile.  You can enjoy the fun of the holiday season by remembering to eat sweets in moderation and practice dedicated oral hygiene habits to protect your teeth from the dangers of sweets. Not sure what to do with all your Halloween loot? We can offer some ideas.

How to Trick Halloween:  Sugar Overload Prevention Tips

Your child won’t be the only thing dressed to impress this Halloween season! Sugar wears many faces this time of year and can be very persuasive.  While most kids have been told time and time again about the dangers of going overboard on their sugars, Halloween parades them around every corner–literally–making avoiding them very difficult. We would like to offer you some suggestions on how you can outsmart Sugar’s tricks this season and prevent your children (and household) from the dangers of sugar overload.

Eat Before You Go, Don’t Go Slow

Your children are less likely to overeat from their portable candy stashes if they have full tummies when they start trick-or-treating. Plan for a hearty, healthy meal that evening that doesn’t leave room for much more! Plan to trick-or-treat earlier on in the evening. If you have a specific window defined for trick-or-treating, you can help your child not accumulate too much candy and you can also avoid them growing hungry and wanting to munch on it all through the night.  Allow your children to pick out some of their favorite candy to eat on designated treat nights and then redistribute the rest to trick-or-treaters that visit your home. This will help you rid your home of all the excess sugar.

Teach Your Children About Sugar

It won’t be the first time, but your children–especially around Halloween–can benefit from hearing again about the proper use of sugar in our diets. The average American consumes 3 pounds of sugar each week.  The American Heart Association recommends no more than 9.5 teaspoons (approximately 47 grams) per day. The amount Americans are now consuming is well over the recommended amount.  According to brain scans, sugar is just as addictive as cocaine.  A form of sugar is in almost everything we eat, but taking an active role in knowing how to monitor your sugar consumption will boost both your oral health and your overall health as well. While a little bit of sugar doesn’t do much harm, too much can negatively impact your health and not just by the formation of cavities.  Sugar consumption can lead to coronary heart disease, type II diabetes, metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure, cancer and obesity.

Out of Sight Out of Mind

Don’t keep Halloween candy out where it is easily seen. This causes more consumption of sugars than if the candy is put away for special treat nights. Keep fruits and vegetables on display to encourage your children to reach for them instead!

Brush, Brush, Brush

Halloween is another great opportunity to remind your children of the importance of brushing and flossing their teeth after they consume sweets. Encourage them to brush their teeth immediately after they eat sweets to help reduce the growth of plaque and bacteria in their mouths. Foods with a high sugar content deposit large amounts of sugar residue on your teeth that is hard to remove with your natural saliva production. Brushing offers you a tool to extract the plaque more efficiently.

Donate Your Excess Candy

Children like to eat candy, yes, but they also really enjoy the process of accumulating it; they like to go out on Halloween and return with their bags full. If you are still left with lots of excess candy, even after trying to redistribute it to trick-or-treaters who visit your home, consider donation. Many local companies offer “donate to troops” or “donate to homeless” programs that allow you put your excess candy to good use.

Call for a Healthy Teeth Consultation

If you would like to learn more about how you can help improve your nutrition and teeth health habits for a healthier smile (and body) call our office today!  Mountain Aire Dentistry, located in Broomfield, CO is a general and family dentistry practice. We are passionate about helping you and your children achieve and maintain optimal oral health and a beautiful smile! We focus on prevention, tooth preservation, and awareness and make every effort to treat our patients the way we treat members of our own family. We offer comprehensive care for your dental needs in a relaxed and efficient atmosphere.  We look forward to meeting you and your family! Call us today at (303) 731-7755 to make an appointment.


291 E Flatiron Crossing Dr,
Broomfield, CO 80021

(303) 731-7755

 

When you visit our Broomfield dental office, your smile is our top priority. Our Dentists invite you to experience the difference a warm and caring team can provide for you and your family. Enjoy a unique and comfortable dental experience designed to bring a healthier and happier smile back into your life. We invite you to call or visit our Broomfield dental office and discover the exceptional difference we offer to those we serve.