Halloween is definitely a fun time for the whole family, it means it’s time to pick out Halloween costumes for the kids and family as well as looking forward to collecting bags full of sweets from the neighbours and even at school. In those bags of sweets lies something even scarier than ghosts and ghoulies…Sugar! Sugar consumption without proper dental hygiene can lead to tooth decay!
Having said all of this, Halloween is not a time to be scared of possible dental issues! It is a time for lots of fun, sweets in moderation and dressing up! It can give parents and children alike a chance to learn new tricks to maintain their dental health throughout the year.
Dental Hygiene Tips
1. Be Selective. Not all of the Halloween treats are scary. A good dental hygiene tip is to encourage kids to eat sweets that melt fast and can be eaten quickly. Try to avoid gooey, sticky sweets (like caramels) that can linger in the mouth and on the teeth. This will allow the bacteria in the mouth to produce more acid which will cause tooth decay.
A really good idea might be to buy a new toothbrush that is Halloween related as a final “treat”.
2. Hide the excess sweeties. Do not just leave the Halloween sweets around the house after the Halloween trick or treating is over. Store it in a secret place out of reach from kids and adults.
3. Avoid grazing. The idea is not to just keep picking at the candy throughout the day. This reduces the time the sugars are in the mouth decreasing chance of tooth decay. A better idea is to hold back sweeties and use it as an after meal treat.
4. Eat a Healthy Meal first. Have children not fill up on snacks and Halloween sweets but fill up on a healthy nutritious meal first. This will give them less temptation to overdo their sweetie consumption. This is a good dental hygiene tip for all year and not just Halloween time.
