Have a tooth-friendly Halloween

With Halloween and Bonfire night just around the corner, it can be hard to say no to so many sugary treats, especially when they’re so easily accessible at this time of year.

With this in mind, it can also be quite tempting for adults too. Supermarket shelves are stocked with toffee apples, limited edition cakes, GREEN colourings, artificial sweeteners, hard boiled sweets, lollipops and so much more.

Unfortunately, in the UK, sugar is a very common part of people’s everyday diet, but Halloween brings not only a day of excessive sugar, but also days that follow, where you’re still picking at the leftovers in the trick or treat bowl.

Sticky sweets are very popular at this time of year, and they are also the type of sweets where the sugar stays in the mouth for the longest, due to the amount of time it takes saliva to wash away the sugar. Also, you need to be aware of acidic or “sours”, that not only are full of sugar the acid helps dissolve your teeth.

If you are going to eat this sugar, best to eat it in one go and then rinse your mouth out with water afterwards.

James Goolnik, founder of Bow Lane Dental recently used a disclosing tablet on a young patient to see the amount of plaque that goes unseen to the naked eye. Take a look below…

The purple sections on this patients’ teeth is actually plaque. It’s very important that you book in with your dentist regularly for check-ups, before you or your children develop dental caries and tooth decay.

What can you do to make Halloween tooth-friendly?

Take a look below at some of the healthier alternatives that you can put to the test this Halloween…

Alternatives for children’s Trick ‘or’ Treat bags:

• Colourful pencils
• Stickers and mini activity packs
• Glow sticks
• Bubbles
• Spinning tops 
• Mini playdough tubs
• Halloween themed keyrings
• Spooky accessories such as headbands and handmade bracelets

Alternatives for Halloween party food:

There are plenty of different low-sugar alternatives online which can help you gather some inspiration for a Halloween party. Why not try Pinterest too!

• Make sure fruit and veg is still easily accessible.
• Add edible eyes to carrot and cucumber sticks.
• Create ‘Spooky’ boiled eggs instead of Halloween-themed chocolate eggs.
• Create Pumpkin shapes out of satsumas.
• Carve mini pumpkin faces out on peppers.

But, most importantly! Don’t forget to book your check-ups regularly to prevent tooth decay (caries). Click on the link below to make an appointment at Bow Lane Dental and keep your smile in tip-top condition.

>> Book your appointment here<<