Don’t Binge on Candy during Halloween

Tips to Avoid Overindulging on Holiday Sweets

The days are getting shorter, children are back in school, the temperature is dropping, and every store is putting out its Halloween decorations. With the sweetest holiday of the year right around the corner, children and adults alike are dreaming of the copious amounts of candy they will be collecting on Halloween night. While having the occasional sweet treat isn’t a crime, it is important to know the damage it can do to your teeth and know what you should do to stop yourself from overindulging.

Fill Up Ahead of Time

Before heading out on the Trick or Treating trail or to a Halloween party where candy will be available, make sure to have a healthy meal. Not only will eating beforehand make you feel full and less likely to binge, having something healthy – even a small snack – will help to curb your cravings for sweets.

Set Candy Boundaries

If your children have a lot of Halloween candy available in your home or you have some leftover from handing it out to Trick or Treaters it is ok to indulge in a treat – with limits. Set boundaries for yourself about how much candy you will allow yourself to eat in one day and make sure that threshold is low.

Think About How You Chew

Enjoying the candy you are eating longer can actually help you eat less. By chewing slowly and with intent, it allows you to really enjoy the sweet treat and make you less likely to go for another piece. Chewing slowly also helps you to feel full faster – another way to eat less of the sweet stuff.

Drink Enough Water

Drinking water right after eating a piece of candy or other sweet treat can help to wash away the sugars and food particles left behind in your teeth. This will help to reduce the likelihood of sugars staying on the teeth and causing the teeth’s enamel to wear away, which ultimately causes decay and cavities.

Use Rewards Other than Sweets

A lot of people will reward themselves for completing a task or sticking to their diet or exercise routine. More often than not, these rewards are treats like candy. When working toward a goal, think of other things to reward yourself with like extra TV time, a new piece of clothing, or a new movie or CD. Having these types of rewards will make you less likely to use sweets to reward yourself.

It is also a good idea to see a dentist after the Halloween season…just in case. If you have been avoiding the dentist due to a lack of insurance, consider using the Wellness Dental Plan. This is a New Hampshire dental plan that can save you as much as 20 percent off your annual and emergency care dental bills. For more information, please click here.

*Photo Courtesy of Matthew Frederickson via Creative Commons License