ABILENE, Texas (KTAB / KRBC) – Kids already collect candy for Halloween, but too much can end up hurting your pocket in the long run.

When asked about Halloween treat plans, Mom-of-1 Sarah Smith said she and her husband prefer treats that aren’t candy for their son.

“Anytime people hand out the little bags of pretzels or the little bags of yogurt or something like that,” Smith said.

Her motivation is to take care of her son’s teeth, thereby reducing the potential long-term effects of sugary treats.

“He gets candy every now and then, we just try to stay away from hard candy and things that could damage his teeth,” Smith said.

Growing up, Smith says she and her brother both wore braces and when it came to cheating or treating, her parents were more strict with her brother because he had the most cavities.

Now, as a mom, she implements the same care for her son’s dental health.

“He’s still a little young, but we take him to the dentist all the time, and his teeth are perfect right now, so we’ll see what happens,” Smith said.

Dr Norm Poorman, a pediatric dentist from Abilene, says that this time of year he sees a lot of dental fillings and missing dental crowns because of all the sticky candy the kids eat on weekends. Halloween end.

“Too many good things can be bad for you. If the candy you choose is really sticky, really sticky, or has added acid, or stays in your mouth for an extended period of time, it’s usually the worst candy, ”said Dr Poorman.

Dr Poorman says trick-or-treating should be fun, and that includes sweet treats with some control.

“If you’re worried about that or something, just limit the amount of candy they can have per day, because Halloween candy is going to last a long time,” Smith said.

Dr Poorman says Abilene Children’s Dentistry will be handing out free toothbrushes and consultations as part of a sleight of hand. He recommends that children see a dentist every 6 months for regular exams and x-rays.