Halloween is a holiday favorite of kids and adults alike. While the day is typically full of fun times and sweet treats, it’s essential to be on guard for any potential dangers or hazards associated with Halloween candy. You may already trust your neighbors, but it’s always wise to check trick-or-treating candy just in case to keep your kids (and their teeth!) safe.

Additionally, knowing which threats can cause the most harm to your kids’ teeth can help parents limit the amount of potential damage.

As a parent, you want to ensure you are taking certain precautions when it comes to Halloween candy safety. While tampered Halloween candy is thankfully rare, it can still happen. Establish Halloween candy rules before heading out of the house, and discuss your concerns for safety with your children. Following these Halloween candy safety tips can alleviate parent anxiety while keeping your kiddos safe.

Discuss expectations with your kids on snacking before heading out the door to go trick-or-treating, Though tampering is rare, a responsible adult should closely examine all treats and sort candies before any snacking.

Always check that candy has not been tampered with before consuming. Many hospitals will do complimentary X-rays to ensure that your child’s candy is free from any harmful objects.

It’s a great ideal to explain to your children why inspecting all candy is necessary before consuming. Keep your kids involved by inspecting their stash together under a bright light and ask them questions such as:

If you have a child with allergies, it’s likely that you’re already used to checking labels carefully before handing something off. As far as trick-or-treating goes, it may also be wise to bring two separate bags to help separate any potential allergen candy from the safe candy as you go door to door.

Certain candies such as gum, hard candies, and even round candies like Whoppers can be dangerous choking hazards. Younger kids should only eat these treats in the presence of an adult.

While it may be thought of as a kind gesture to the preparer, you should discard any homemade treats from strangers, including popcorn balls and caramel apples. Additionally, any candy that has been repackaged in a bag may have also been tampered with. The best rule to follow when faced with cookies, brownies, or baked goods from people you don’t know is when in doubt, throw it out.

You’re not alone in cringing at the thought of how many potential cavities lie within those brightly wrapped treats this Halloween! However, before you pull out the toothbrushes and toothpaste, keep these tooth-friendly tips in mind:

For more Tooth-friendly Halloween safety tips, contact Cherrywood Dental Associates. When it comes to your family’s health and their teeth, you can never be tooth careful.