How To Enjoy Halloween Treats & Keep Teeth Healthy

Trick or Teeth: How To Enjoy Halloween Treats & Keep Teeth Healthy | AD

It’s that time of year again… Pumpkins and frightening decorations have started popping up around neighbourhoods in preparation for Halloween. Soon, it will be time for groups of children dressed up as spooky characters to move through the streets, knocking on doors on the hunt for every child’s favourite thing – sweets! 

There are usually plenty of sweets on offer and it’s so easy to lose track of the scary amount of sugar a child can consume in just one evening. Did you know that some of the worst-offending sweets contain up to 17g of sugar in just one handful?

Which Sweets are the Worst for Teeth?

So, which of those tempting treats should find their way into the pumpkin bucket and which should be banished? Which sweets are the worst for your child’s teeth?

The worst kind of sweets for teeth are sticky, hard-boiled sweets. This is due to their high sugar levels and because they remain in mouth for longer – the increased acid can wear down the enamel. Then there’s also the risk of chipping teeth on one of these hard sweets. Another bad choice of sweets when you’re considering dental health are sour sweets. They contain high levels of acid which can cause tooth sensitivity and can also increase the risk of cavities. They can even damage your taste buds.

What Sweets are Not Bad for Your Teeth?

After learning that, you are probably wondering which sweets are best for your teeth. Hygienist Hannah Ripley recommends opting for low-sugar sweet options like jelly sweets. Other healthier alternatives to sweets include yoghurt-covered fruit or popcorn drizzled with chocolate as a fun Halloween treat.

Chocolate is generally a better option for your teeth compared to regular sweets. This is because chocolate washes off your teeth quite easily without sticking to your teeth. Chocolate also contains less sugar than sweets. 

Hannah Ripley advises that “children can still enjoy their treats but it’s vitally important to be aware of how much sugar they are consuming and the potential impact on their teeth. My advice is to limit extra sugar intake from sweets to no more than 20g a day which is roughly the equivalent of 5 sugar cubes.”

Top 5 Tips for Supporting Children’s Oral Health this Halloween 

Here are Hannah’s top 5 tips to support children’s oral health while still enjoying the treats this Halloween:

• If eating sweet treats, it’s better to eat them in one sitting rather than spreading them out throughout the day and increasing acid contact with teeth
• Ensure children brush their teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste
• Leave at least 30 minutes after eating acidic foods before brushing to avoid eroding the tooth enamel
• Limit sugary snacks and drinks and replace with healthier options such as a fun fruit skewer or popcorn
• Introduce interdental cleaning when 2 teeth touch between the ages of 2 and 6 and ensure children “clean between” once a day

The Importance of Interdental Cleaning

Did you know that 77% of tooth decay starts between the teeth? A toothbrush alone cleans just 60% of the tooth which is not enough to keep teeth healthy. To reach the other surface areas that the toothbrush can’t reach, it’s important to make interdental cleaning a part of your – and your kids’ – dental routine. 

Oral hygiene products such as DenTek’s floss picks and interdental brushes are vital for this and can be introduced at an early age.

In fact, dentists recommend children start interdental cleaning as soon as two teeth are touching. As regular flossing products designed for adults are sometimes difficult for children to use, it is recommended that they use interdental products designed specifically for children like Dentek Kids Fun Flossers and under supervision.   

Dentek Kids Fun Flossers are available from selected Boots stores and online from Boots and Amazon. Please visit dentek-eu.com for more information. 

Conclusion

Don’t be tricked by the treats and terrifying sugar levels this Halloween. Follow the tips and advice above to enjoy the treats without the toothache. 

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