Halloween is right around the corner. For children everywhere, it’s an exciting time full of fun costumes and sugary sweet treats. For parents, it can be a bit of a nightmare when it comes to looking out for your child’s oral health. The expert dentistry team at Hawaii-based Pediatric Dental Group encourages parents first and foremost, to HAVE FUN!  Then, they can use Halloween as a time to review dental hygiene habits with their children. Here are five tips to maintain your child’s healthy teeth during Halloween:

Don’t Be Too Strict: While it may be tempting, do not deny your child the Halloween experience. A one time even such as Halloween will not play a significant role in developing cavities.  Telling your child that they are not allowed to partake in any Halloween candy will simply make the idea more irresistible. Before you know it, they’ll be sneaking treats at school or at their friend’s houses. Once your child is finished trick-or-treating for the night, go through their candy haul together. Select a number of choice treats for them to enjoy, reminding them that they’ll need to brush and floss to avoid cavities. Any remaining candy should be stored out of sight or donated.

Make Treat Time Something To Look Forward To: Consider making a ritual with your child, where there is a specific time of day that they will be allowed to enjoy Halloween treats. This schedule can continue long after Halloween so your child understands that sugary items are treats to be enjoyed in moderation, not for every single meal.

Create a Tooth Brushing Schedule: Make sure that you plan your treat time near a scheduled tooth brushing session. Parents should be helping their children brush and floss twice a day until they are about 6 years old and can continue the process on their own. Even as children get older, always remind them to brush and floss their teeth and eat treats in moderation to avoid cavities.

Rinse out their mouths when they are done: As we always recommend, after the snacking session is done, have the children rinse their mouth with water.  Rinsing with water after any meal helps to quickly wash away any sugar that's hanging around, and also reduces the acid level that builds up during meals.  This reduces the risk of decay in a quick and easy way.  Then, make sure to brush and floss and use supplemental fluoride (drops, tabs or rinses) as they normally would before bedtime.

Keep it Fun: As always, try to make the act of brushing, flossing, and maintain oral health fun for your child. Toothbrushes should be replaced every three months, so allow your child to pick seasonal or cartoon-themed brushes that will make them excited to use the tool. Let your child have a say in the type of toothpaste they use, as long as their selection contains fluoride.

For more teeth cleaning tips schedule your appointment at Pediatric Dental Group today by calling them at (808) 593-8828 or visiting their website.