Once your kids return from trick-or-treating tonight, your home will be full of candy. It’s ok to let your kids have some, but it’s hard to stop them from eating it every day if it’s just sitting there on the counter tempting them. To help prevent tooth decay and cavities, here are five ways to use up your Halloween candy:
- Donate it: The best way to protect your child’s teeth and overall health from too much candy, is to give some of it away to others who would appreciate it. One option is Ronald McDonald House Charities, which provides housing for parents of children staying in nearby hospitals. It accepts candy donations to brighten up the families hard days. You can also donate to Operation Shoebox, which sends care packages and letters to U.S. troops stationed abroad. The troops pass out the candy to children in war-torn countries or share it with each other.
- Freeze it: Allow your children to have a few favorite pieces of candy, and then put the rest in the freezer. You can take out some as treats every once in awhile, and make the Halloween fun last throughout the year, and protect their teeth from an overdose of sugar.
- Add it to trail mix: Instead of just letting your children eat their Halloween candies as a snack the next few weeks, add them to a trail mix of nuts and raisins. This will help keep them full longer, while still getting to nibble on a little sweets.
- Use it as a learning tool: You can transform candy into a way to teach young children how to count, add and subtract. After counting correctly, they can eat one as a treat.
- Bake with it: Since the holidays are on their way, save your candy to use in Christmas cookies, gingerbread houses, cakes or brownies.
After eating any sweets, it’s important to drink water to rinse the sugar off your teeth before teeth-decaying bacteria develops. The best way to prevent cavities is to brush your teeth twice a day, floss daily and visit your dentist for a bi-annual check-up. If you are in need of a dental cleaning, contact the Lakeway Center for Cosmetic and Family Dentistry today and set-up your appointment.