23 Oct Tips and Tricks to survive the Halloween dental horrors

All kids want to get loads of Halloween sweets when out trick-or-treating but as a parent, you know that eating too much sugar is not good for your child. Dr Patel at Putney Dental Surgery reminds parents at this time of the year that Halloween is a good time to teach your kids good oral health habits without depriving them of their Halloween goodies.

Here are a few top tips and “tricks” you can try this Halloween season to ensure that your child has healthy teeth now and in the future.

Allow Your Kids to Enjoy their Treats in Moderation

Halloween is the one holiday out of the whole year that is just for youngsters to enjoy. We encourage the parents of our young patients not to deny your children the fun experience of Halloween because sweets are a big part of it.

Let your kids have fun enjoying the goodies they collect (in moderation) as that’s part of the fun of going to parties or trick-or-treating.

When your kids come home after going door-to-door, sit down with them to go through their bag of Halloween treats together. Have them choose a few pieces (you decide how many) they’d like to eat at the time. Then, put the rest of the sweets away and out of sight. You and your children may  choose to donate excessive lollies to  local charities

Halloween is a Good Time to Talk to Kids about Sweets and Their Teeth

The Halloween season is a great time to talk to your kids about sugar and their teeth. Consider sitting down with your kids to remind them that eating too many sweets can lead them to getting cavities. Instead of saying that lollies are “bad”, it’s better to tell your children that eating an excessive amount of sweet treats is simply not good for their teeth. This will help your kids learn that what they eat affects their oral health and that they have control over their diets.

Set a Halloween Treat Time

Instead of allowing your children to dig into their Halloween treats whenever they wish, parents should set a “treat time” to teach kids that sweets should be eaten in moderation. And, when children know they have a specific time they can enjoy their goodies, they’re less likely to think about eating candy at other times during the day. You should also try to motivate your child to consume a small quantity of lollies per sitting then encourage them to drink one glass of water followed by brushing their teeth. You must never let your child sit for extended periods of time with a pack of candies by their side as this will increase the period of time that he or she is exposed to sugar.

You can also teach your child to chew sugar free gum. Chewing sugar-free gum for at least twenty minutes after consuming a meal can help significantly in reducing tooth decay. This is primarily because the increased production of saliva can help in washing out the food and in neutralizing the acid that is produced by bacteria-causing plaque.

Dr Patel and her staff want our young patients to enjoy this fun time of the year! But we also want our patients to learn how to care for their teeth so they have smiles they can be proud of for the rest of their lives.

       Don’t forget brush your teeth twice a day. See your dentist twice a year