In just a few short days, children across Maine and the country will dress up in their Halloween best, sporting everything from ninja gear to princess dresses, and go door to door asking the age-old question: “Trick or treat?”
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as many as 41 million children are expected to go trick or treating in the United States this year. That means a lot of little sets of teeth are likely to be consuming a lot of sugar in the days following Halloween.
A survey from KidsHealth showed most kids receive at least 50 pieces of candy in a few hours on Halloween. More than 44 percent, however, said they were given more than 100 pieces.
So what is a family, especially one concerned about oral hygiene, to do?
According to the American Dental Association, hard candies and sticky candies are the worst offenders. Because they stay in the mouth for longer periods of time, hard candies like lollipops and jawbreakers can increase the risk of tooth decay. Sticky candies, on the other hand, such as taffy and gummy bears, are more difficult to wash away, which also can lead to an increased risk of tooth decay.
On the flip side, studies show chewing sugar-free gum for 20 minutes may reduce tooth decay. If we could persuade our children the new Orbit for Kids chewing gum is just as good as a Snickers bar, we’d be in luck. However, because that’s not likely, timing candy consumption with meals or shortly after can increase saliva, which can help rinse away lingering candy particles.
Not sure whether brushing or limiting Laffy Taffy will be enough to curb the damage to your family members’ teeth this year? Have your children choose some of their candy to enjoy Halloween night and a few days after, then try one of these ideas to use up the rest.
— Introduce the Halloween Fairy: This fictional do-good fairy comes by way of nightfall and exchanges leftover Halloween candy for a toy, art supplies or cash. Exchange the contents of your child’s plastic pumpkin for that Lego set he or she has been eyeing since Easter or for a new set of watercolors. Include a note — complete with glitter, if you’re into that sort of thing — that thanks the child for choosing a healthier option.
— Freeze it for later: Set aside a few treats for the week’s lunches and put the rest in a freezer-safe container. Pull out a piece every once in a while for a treat.
— Use it for another holiday, activity or get-together: Make an Advent calendar and place a leftover piece of candy from Halloween in each of the slots. Use the candy to decorate a gingerbread house in December. Put out a bowl of candy at an upcoming party or bake it into cookies and brownies.
— Give it away: Call your dentist and see whether he or she participates in a Halloween candy buyback, which typically involves paying children for each pound of candy they bring in. The candy is then sent to troops serving overseas. Or send some of the sweet stuff yourself to programs like Operation Gratitude or Any Soldier, which give care packages to enlisted soldiers.
— Use it as a teaching tool: For older children, have them find out what it takes to melt or crush different types of candy. The website Science20.com has several great experiements, like figuring out how to use extra chocolate bars as an energy source. For the little ones, have them glue down different colored candies on construction paper in the same color or sort similar shaped candies into muffin tins. When they’re done, let them choose one to eat and have them talk about texture, taste and, if applicable, sound. Who knew math and science could taste so good?
— Eat it yourself: Parents, admit it — you are guilty of raiding the kids’ candy. Who hasn’t? So, in the name of their oral health, bring some candy to the office or stash a few pieces in your purse. After all, what’s the point if you can’t indulge in their hard-earned Reese’s cups after walking the kids around the neighborhood for a few hours?
