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!), it affects a child’s ability to eat, speak, learn, smile, watch TV and play. Tooth pain is scary! At Halloween, remind parents about these smart ways to cut down on candy without cutting down on the fun.
- First, get rid of 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 eat all the candy they want...once! After that, put it away.
- 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 fluoride toothpaste right after sweet treats. 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 3!
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
For tips on brushing young children’s teeth, see this super-short, super-helpful Tooth Talk video.
For more about National Brush Day, click here
