CANDY SEASON CONTINUES

It’s January.
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A common complaint we hear is that families indulged “over the holidays,” with treats and sweets that are part of most cultures’ festive celebrations. In fact, a time of year we like to call “candy season” has been upon us since October, when we all had fun with Halloween.

 It lasts until late spring, after Valentine's Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, Passover and other cultural holidays.

​Hopefully by now, the pleasure of guiltily sneaking the sweet treats brought on by recent holidays has waned. At our home, most of the candy we received as holiday gifts is now in the freezer. It’s good to be cautious with sweets; it’s something we tell our patients all the time. If proper tooth and mouth care are followed, the occasional, sweet treat won’t harm your teeth.
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Moderation is the key.

“But how do I keep myself from enjoying even the occasional piece?” I can almost hear you asking me. The answer is simple: You can’t avoid it; it’s everywhere. Especially in January, when all the holiday treats are on sale.

Moderation has always been the key, and perhaps willpower: Willfully switching out some of the treats for healthier snacks. If you can do this, and drink lots of water as opposed to fizzy sodas or sugar-rich drinks, you will be ahead of the game and your dentist will love you.
 
That said, there are some strategies for ridding your home and office of sweet treats, whether individually wrapped small pieces or big boxes of sweet chocolates. Here are some tips:

- Bake with it, then give the baked goods away

- Donate it to a women’s or men’s shelter

- Decorate birthday or other gifts with it

- Freeze it, then use it to make an Advent calendar next December

- Put together a gift basket for the hospital’s pediatric ward;

- Take it to work and leave it in a common area

- Give it to a teacher you know who can use it as an occasional, responsible treat for students (*where permitted).

​If candy snacking is truly a problem, there is one family strategy that has some popularity: Let the kids eat as much as they want over the holiday - that applies to any cultural or religious celebration. Then, simply take it away. If they have gorged on it, they possibly will be sick of it anyhow.
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Another strategy that is popular is to only allow one or two treats per child and adult, then get rid of the rest. How you get rid of it is up to you (see tips above). Overindulging in anything sweet can harm your health, and sweet treats without proper mouth and tooth care are a disaster waiting to happen. Lakeport Dental wishes you a safe and happy candy season - but remember, moderation is the key!