Bright Horizons | e.family News

When children go out trick-or-treating, parents should take precautions about candy consumption. But it's also important to have a realistic sense of harm. Media stories and unconfirmed reports on the Internet can give us a sense that the world is a more menacing place than it really is. All of us have probably heard that children are at serious risk because there are troubled people and/or terrorists putting poison and razor blades in Halloween candy. Although this myth has been around in various forms since many of us were trick-or-treating, almost all the reports have been discredited; the odds against it happening to your child are close to nil.

BUT no amount of debunking can alleviate all parental anxiety. "After all," our fear tells us, "However rare, it could happen!" As a precaution:

For young children, remove any choking hazards such as gum, peanuts, hard candies, or small toys.
Instruct your children to show you all their candy before eating it so that you can carefully inspect it for tampering.
Tell your children not to accept or eat anything that isn't commercially wrapped. Throw out candy or treats that are homemade, unwrapped, or have torn wrapping.
Too much candy can lead to an upset stomach, vomiting, and diarrhea. This is actually a much more realistic concern on Halloween! To reduce trick-or-treat munching, give your children a snack or light meal before you leave to go trick-or-treating. Don't head out on an empty stomach.

Limiting the Candy Intake
How can you handle the candy craze after you've inspected it for safety? Some strategies:

Let your child know ahead of time how many pieces he can eat on Halloween night.
The day after Halloween, have your child choose ten to fifteen pieces to keep, and either give the rest to a local food bank or throw it out.
Limit your child's candy consumption to one piece per day and have her follow eating with good teeth brushing.
Freeze candy bars and chocolate for special treats throughout the winter.

Dental Care and Candy
The Massachusetts Dental Society (MDS) believes that not all candy is created equally and there are good and not-so-good options for satisfying every trick-or-treater's sweet tooth. According to Dr. Shelley McBride, an MDSmember and past president of the Massachusetts Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, it's the sticky, chewy candy that may really be harmful to a child's teeth. "Really any food that contains carbohydrates, sugar, or starch can cause tooth decay. So, as far as your dental health is concerned, eating a piece of chocolate is actually not much different from eating a slice of bread or an apple," she notes.

For candy, and all food, make good dental care a part of your normal routine:

Limit consumption to a couple of pieces after dinner, which has the added benefit of being close to the time when most children brush their teeth.
Steer your children away from candies that stick to their teeth, such as caramels and taffy. The best candies are those that can be quickly chewed and swallowed.
Rather than giving children free rein to snack on their candy throughout the day, use the treats as dessert, to be eaten immediately after meals. By reducing the number of times a child snacks on candy or sugary foods during the day, teeth are less exposed to the potentially harmful acid created when residual food is left in the mouth.
Remind your children to brush their teeth at least twice a day, especially at bedtime.
Help your children floss between the teeth once a day.
Check with your doctor or dentist to make sure your child is getting enough cavity-fighting fluoride each day.

Parents Get Crazed, Too
Halloween can be a tough time for candy-loving parents. We try to limit the amount of candy our children have access to, but then we raid the plastic pumpkin ourselves (and make the mistake of buying the candy we like – great leftovers!). Or, in an effort to get some of the candy out of the house, we bring it to work. Unfortunately, our colleagues all have the same idea and the office is covered in candy. Some of us may even find ourselves inventing reasons to walk by the table/desk/office/cubicle with the candy...again and again, particularly in the hours between lunch and quitting time. Try to bring healthy, energy-boosting snacks to get you through this time when your blood sugar plummets.Good suggestions include: apples and cheese, oatmeal, celery with peanut butter, trail mix with unsalted nuts and raisins, or a protein bar. If you find yourself "unconsciously" eating the office candy, leave the empty wrappers in plain sight so you're forced to be honest with yourself about how much candy you're actually taking in.

Sometimes the truth will set you free from the pull to the candy dish. With a little education, a little moderation, and proper brushing after eating, your children (and you) can enjoy candy without ruining your teeth (or waistline). Happy Halloween!