How to Have a Healthy Halloween

Halloween usually means lots of sugary treats. Although it's good to celebrate, it's important to keep your oral health in mind this Fall season! Here are a few ways you can enjoy yourself and still maintain healthy teeth.

Avoid Buying Candy Until The Last Minute

Our team has no problem celebrating Halloween all month long, but the one thing San Francisco dentist Dr. Kandar suggests putting off the longest is buying candy. Keeping bite-sized candies out of the home or office for as long as possible will mean you will have less temptation. Halloween is only one day a year, but if you want to celebrate sooner, do so without the sugar. The more sugar you eat, the more damage it can cause to your tooth enamel, ultimately leaving you defenseless to cavities.

Beware Of The PSL Trend

Did you know one medium (grande) Pumpkin Spice Latte has 50 grams of sugar, 380 calories and 52 grams of carbs? That’s almost 50% of the suggested carbohydrates for a day and double the amount of sugar in one cup! If you can’t say no to your annual PSL treat there are simple ways to cut the calories and sugar:

  • Order only 2 pumps of pumpkin syrup (half the normal amount) and save 15 grams of sugar
  • Save around 70 calories by passing on the whip cream
  • Order a small (short) instead of a medium (grande) to cut out 170 calories
  • Make your own at home!

Don't Forget to Celebrate!

There are plenty of ways to celebrate Halloween by including healthy versions of your favorite treats, like warm cider made with real apples and spiced cinnamon sticks, or adding fiber-packed pureed pumpkin to your pancake mix. San Francisco dentist Dr. Kandar recommends avoiding dried fruits, as they contain much more sugar than raw fruits, and they are sticky and sugary on teeth. And feel free to indulge a little with some dark chocolate. The higher the cocoa content, or the darker the chocolate, the better. If you can’t find the time to brush your teeth after your chocolate treat, make sure to rinse your mouth with water to help remove excess sugar or debris that could harm your tooth enamel. 

Schedule An Appointment

To learn more about how sugary Halloween treats affect your teeth and how you can prevent any dental scares this October, book an appointment online or call your San Francisco dentist Dr. Kandar at (415) 523-9178 today!

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