Halloween is one of the most enjoyed holidays in the country, especially for the kids. Dressing up in fun costumes to get free candy is a hard holiday to beat. It’s so popular that even adults have difficulty growing out of playing dress-up. But what implications does the holiday have for your child’s oral health or safety? Were you aware that nearly twice as many accidents involving trips, falls and vehicle collisions happen on Halloween compared to other holidays?
With that in mind, a family dentist in Lake Highlands wants to offer a few tips so your child comes home with a full smile, both after trick-or-treating and by the time Thanksgiving rolls around.
Improve Their Visibility
One of the most common reasons children trip and fall while collecting candy is because of their costumes. It’s also due to the fact that traveling at night is generally more difficult, especially in parts of the neighborhood where street lights are limited. Therefore, making sure your child is visible is key to avoiding accidents as well as making it easier for them to travel from house to house.
To reduce trips and falls, have them wear face paint instead of a mask, which can easily reduce their visibility. If they’re costume is particularly dark, place reflective tape on their legs or arms so cars can see them. Make sure they only visit houses where the porch lights are on in order to reduce trips and falls.
Make Trick-or-Treating Easier and Safer
Some costumes come with specific footwear that makes walking more difficult, such as heeled shoes or shoe coverings. Their costumes may also be oversized, resulting in additional cloth dragging behind or in front of them. This can easily make tripping and falling more likely, resulting in a cracked or chipped tooth.
To counter this, make sure they wear shoes that are comfortable and don’t impede their ability to walk. In the event they fall or get lost and don’t know where to go, establish a specific route for them to follow so you know their general location at all times. This is particularly important if they don’t have a cell phone or adult with them, however it is recommended that all children under the age of 12 have an adult escort them while trick-or-treating.
Monitor Their Candy Consumption
Finally, Halloween is obviously a candy-filled holiday, but that doesn’t mean you need to ask your child to give up their entire bag. Instead, have them only eat candy after they’ve just had a meal. Saliva production is much higher at this time, which means more chocolate and bacteria will get rinsed away as they enjoy their after-dinner treat.
Furthermore, emphasize the fact that chocolate is not as bad of a treat for teeth than other sugar-filled treats, including gummies, hard candies, lollipops, taffy, caramel and sour candies. These attributes make teeth stay on teeth longer, are more difficult to remove, and are generally more acidic than chocolate.
Now that you’re ready to keep your child’s smile safe, double check their calendars for their next dental appointment. Scheduling one today will protect their mouth in the long-term!
About the Author
Dr. Mariya Barnett earned her dental degree from the University of Michigan. She’s currently a member of numerous dental organizations, was given the American College of Dentists Award, and has been rated as one of Dallas’s Top Doctors of Collin County by D Magazine. To learn more tips on protecting your child’s oral health this holiday, you can contact her through her website.