San Francisco, Marin, and Oakland, CA
Is your house overwhelmed by candy at the end of each Halloween? This probably does not sound like a problem to your children—or to adults with a sweet tooth—but excess Halloween candy actually can pose a serious threat to dental health. There is a way to enjoy all the fun of Halloween without compromising your teeth. Your San Francisco family dentists at Glen Park Dental recommends that you find a candy buyback program, or even consider starting one of your own.
Starting buyback programs is becoming an increasingly popular trend
No matter where you live, there probably is at least one local small business that runs a candy buyback program after Halloween. These programs got their start at dental offices, where children would turn in extra candy from Halloween, which was sent to members of the military serving somewhere overseas. In return, kids would receive cash or coupons for food, services, and goods with other local participating businesses.
You also can start your own buyback program inside the home. Under this system, your child trades in however much of their candy they want in return for rewards. You could offer a set price per piece of candy; even by offering a penny per piece, this could add up to 10 or 20 dollars for your child. You also could offer small toys as an incentive for turning in a certain amount of candy. As for where to ship the sweets? Check with your local veteran’s organizations, which can help connect you with active military serving out of the country.
Here are some other smile-friendly tips for this Halloween
Look for sugar-free treats: Does your child just love lollipops and hard candies? What about chewing gum? Tasty sugar-free varieties of all these treats now are available. These sugar-free candies will fulfill a sweet tooth, but without the sugar that can be used by the bacteria that occur naturally in the mouth as fuel for the formation of cavities. Chewing gum also encourages the production of saliva, which can dislodge any food particles that may have accumulated on or between teeth.
Think savory, not sweet: Most kids love snacks like pretzels, crackers, and trail mix, so who says you can’t also enjoy them during Halloween season? Many of these snacks come in Halloween-themed packaging to fit the spooky season. They also are low in sugar and citric acid, the two major contributors to wearing away tooth enamel.
Preventive care in Oakland
Halloween is one of the most kid-friendly holidays of the entire year. Make sure your children’s dental health is protected before the fun of the season. Your San Francisco pediatric dentists at Glen Park Dental offer several preventive care services. A fluoride treatment, MI Paste, or the application of sealants all can provide additional defense against oral health threats like tooth decay. Remember that taking measures now to prevent a problem will be easier, and less expensive, than undergoing treatment after the problem becomes obvious. To learn more about the program of preventive care at Glen Park Dental or any of our other services, call our office at (415) 585-1500 to schedule a consultation.
Glen Park Dental is proud to serve the oral health needs of patients in Marin, Oakland, and San Francisco, California.
