How much sugar is too much on Halloween?
We asked CHRIM Scientist Dr. Bob Schroth, who leads the Healthy Smile Happy Child (HSHC) community outreach dental program for kids, to give parents some tips for this upcoming Halloween season.
Dr. Schroth’s tips:
Don’t be afraid of having candy and treats on Halloween!
- Sugar increases your child’s risk of cavities
- Brush your child’s teeth twice a day with a soft toothbrush to scare the sugar bugs away
- Flossing helps get rid of the sugar bugs between your child’s teeth
- Enjoy treats after mealtimes instead of throughout the day
October 14th is World Cavity Free Future Day
Brushing your teeth with fluoride toothpaste is proven to be one of the most effective way to prevent cavities and tooth decay and recently the World Health Organization (WHO) recognized fluoride toothpaste as an essential medicine. Despite this, some children and adults do not or cannot brush their teeth regularly.
For WCFFDay 2023 we want to highlight how important toothbrushing is throughout the life course. Establishing a healthy brushing routine using fluoride toothpaste with babies and infants, and maintaining that all through the rest of the life course, is crucial for keeping teeth healthy and cavity-free. Encouraging the right habits as early as possible is crucial to helping people maintain these healthy habits throughout the life course.