What’s more terrifying than zombies? Tooth decay. Why? Because it hurts little kids! The most common chronic childhood disease (yes, even more common than asthma!), tooth decay affects a child’s ability to eat, speak, learn, smile, sleep, play ... even watch TV. Tooth pain is scary! At Halloween, remind parents about these smart ways to cut down on candy without cutting down on the spooky fun.
- First, limit the gooey goodies, such as chocolate rolls, gummies, and caramels. They stick to little teeth longer and are harder to brush away.
- Don’t ruin the excitement of trick-or-treating. It’s OK to let kiddies enjoy their candy in moderation on Halloween! After that, put it away and share a treat every now and then.
- Save the Halloween haul for dessert only, after a nutritious meal of protein, vegetables, fruits, and milk. Don’t let kids graze on candy all day.
- Beware of choking hazards for little ones under the age of three: Remove all round hard candy from tots’ treat bags.
- Brush little teeth with safe and healthy children’s fluoride toothpaste. From the first tooth to the age of three, use a smear of toothpaste the size of a grain of rice. After the third birthday, remember: a pea for me at age three!
- Make sure little ones visit the dentist by their first birthday to ensure a healthy smile for many Halloweens to come! Promoting good home care and catching tooth decay early is key.
National Brush Day is November 1, the day after Halloween. It’s a good time to remind families with young children to brush kids' teeth with fluoride toothpaste for two minutes twice a day, because the sweetest treat of all is healthy teeth!
For more about National Brush Day, click here.
