Some dentists might advise you to seek out Halloween treats that’re are healthier for kids, but one is taking a more practical approach. Ed Schooley, director of the Delta Dental Plan of Iowa says keeping candy from the kids isn’t practical. He says “it’s strictly impossible to steer your kids away from Halloween and some of the treats that go with that.” Doctor Schooley says you instead need to manage the way the kiddies handle the candy. He says you should stay away from the “real sticky” types of candy that will stay on their teeth a long time, and ration the candy keeping it from the kids right before bed. Schooley has some other tips for preventing cavities. He says follow up candy by having kids swoosh water in their mouths to help dilute the sugars that combine with bacteria to produce acid that creates cavities. There are all types of flavored toothpastes available for kids, and Schooley says he only has one recommendation. He says he’s not opposed to any type of toothpaste that gets the kids to put the brush in their mouths, he just says the toothpaste needs to have flouride in it.
