Tips for a Tooth-Friendly Easter Basket For Children

Easter is a fun and festive holiday. It's also a great time to teach your kids about dental health. At Easter time, many families fill Easter baskets with candy and other treats. Unfortunately, many of the most popular Easter candy options are not good for your teeth.

Avoid Sticky or Hard Candies

Some types of candy are worse than others when it comes to your child's teeth. Hard candies break apart easily, which causes them to get stuck in the grooves of teeth. Sticky treats like gummy bears tend to stay in the mouth for a long time, so the sugar in these foods has more opportunities to cause tooth decay. If you still want to include sweets in your basket, consider choosing the ones that are less likely to contain risky ingredients like high fructose corn syrup.

Softer lollies like jelly beans and gumdrops are safe for children to consume and are good for their teeth, too! These sweet treats encourage the production of saliva, which helps to wash away bacteria from the teeth and gums and keep cavities at bay.

If you do decide to give your child some candy this Easter, make sure they brush and floss as soon as possible before they go to bed for the night. This will help keep their smile healthy and cavity-free.

Select Candy With Natural Sugar

If children are getting an Easter basket, avoid including candies with added sugar, such as jelly beans or gummy bears. Instead, choose chocolate or other treats made with natural sugars found in fruits. You can also opt for sugar-free hard candies instead of soft ones. Hard candies take more effort to eat, and they are less likely to snack on them throughout the day.

It's also a good idea to avoid chocolate that melts easily. This includes chocolate bunnies and other small chocolate treats. Chocolate that is prone to melting also tends to get sticky, which can affect those wearing braces. Instead, consider chocolate eggs or coins that won't melt as quickly.

Choose Dark Chocolate Over Milk Chocolate

When deciding on an Easter basket for your child, remember that chocolate isn't necessarily bad for teeth. The type your child eats can be an issue, however. Dark chocolates have less sugar than milk and white chocolates. And like candy in general, they shouldn't be eaten too often or in large portions.

Sugar is the main enemy of oral health because it feeds oral bacteria, which leads to tooth decay and cavities. So for a healthier alternative, choose dark chocolate over milk chocolate this Easter!

Milk chocolate and white chocolate contain extra sugar. If your family prefers other kinds of chocolate, such as caramels or toffees, limit your child's intake as well. And remember that moderation is key.

Chaffee Pediatric Dentistry provides solutions for all your child's dental problems. We are located at 1239 East McKellips Rd #107, Mesa, AZ 85203. You can reach us at 480.739.2993.