If there’s anything that Halloween is known for, it’s candy. As a parent, limiting the amount of sugary sweets your son or daughter eats during the holidays can be tricky, but not impossible. The key is to provide plenty of healthy alternatives to offset the candies that will be readily available almost every day between now and the New Year.
At Oral Care Dentistry, we understand how challenging this time of year can be, which is why we’ve compiled a list of Halloween treats to help protect your children’s teeth from cavity-causing sweets.
Believe it or not, but dark chocolate is actually a fairly healthy treat compared to the more popular milk chocolate variety. Dark chocolate with at least 60 percent cacao has enough antioxidants to help reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and lift one’s mood. Cacao is also packed with a wide range of essential minerals and vitamins. Of course, it’s important to never overdo it. A square or two is enough to satiate a sweet tooth.
Chewing gum can actually help protect your child’s teeth, that is, as long as it is sugar-free. Gum not only helps dislodge plaque-causing debris in those hard-to-reach places around the teeth, but it also stimulates saliva production, which is the mouth’s natural defense against harmful bacteria.
This healthy snack requires only a few chocolate chips and a single banana. Simply peel a banana and cut it in half. Place the halves cut side down on a plate and use three chocolate chips to create the eyes and mouth of the ghost. The creative presentation and little bit of chocolate will help make these fruity snacks much more enjoyable.
Drawing inspiration from the quintessential Halloween candy, the candy corn fruit cup is made with some fresh pineapple, clementines, and whipped cream. When placed in the right order in a clear cup, the festive presentation is complete! Remember to follow up any sweet, citrusy snacks with a glass of water to help wash away sugar and acids from the mouth.
This particularly silly and tasty snack combines a green apple quarter, a slice of strawberry, and a few sunflower seeds, strategically arranged, to look like a goblin’s goofy grin. Cut a wedge into the skin side of each apple quarter, insert the sunflower seeds into the edges of the wedge to create teeth, and then place the strawberry slice in the very middle to look like a wagging tongue. Sprinkle a bit of honey and call it goblin drool for an extra touch!
Dr. Parnaz Aurasteh and the staff at Oral Care Dentistry hope that you and your little ones have a happy, healthy Halloween this year! Don’t forget to encourage your children to brush and floss every morning and night, especially during the holidays, and schedule your family dental services at our family friendly Beverly Hills office. Call (310) 974-6779 or contact us online!
