As a neighborhood kids' dentist, we enjoy treating our little patients. It is important to us that we help them to stay in good oral health to avoid cavities and toothaches. Being a kid should be full of good times, but a lot of what kids do includes unhealthy activities and foods. Halloween, for example, is a holiday that is so full of candy, most kids have left-overs until Thanksgiving. Sugar is bad for your teeth and eating too much of it can put our young patients at risk for cavities. We have come up with ways to keep Halloween fun while making it healthy.
Before Halloween arrives, or immediately after, schedule a professional teeth cleaning procedure so that we can remove bacteria and plaque from the child's teeth. This procedure allows us to look for cavities and treat them so that the child can go into the holiday season in good health. We can also put fluoride onto their teeth as added protection from cavities. This way, the child will be less likely to get a toothache in the near future.
On Halloween, there are things one can do to make the holiday as healthy as it is fun. Here are tips from our kids' dentist office:
Start the morning with slime
That's right, on Halloween, drink slime for breakfast. Slime is really a smoothie consisting of kale, yogurt, and banana. This is a healthy drink that is full of nutrients and tastes great. With the green color of kale, kids will imagine they are drinking slime while actually having something healthy.
Eat a balanced meal
Before starting the festivities, make sure that the family has a balanced meal containing complex carbs and lean protein for sustained energy. When the family eats a meal that is primarily made up of simple carbs, like pasta with white noodles, their energy will rise and fall quickly. This is not good when the family is out walking around or at a party as it will lead them to snack or reach for a candy bar. By eating a healthy meal, children will be less tempted to reach for candy.
Upgrade from candy
If the kids really want to trick-or-treat, tell them that if they collect a bag full of candy they can upgrade for a toy by trading it in. This way, parents can confiscate the candy without feeling bad, the kids get the experience and a toy that lasts far longer. Your kids' teeth will be healthier, and they will learn that making healthy choices can also be fun.
Host a monster bash
Invite friends and family to come over for a fun-filled party. Ask everyone to dress up and have a costume contest, play games, and dance the night away while eating healthy treats. Kids will not be exposed to a lot of candy but will have so much fun they will not even notice.
Follow these tips to have a fun and healthy Halloween, then visit our kids' dentist office for a teeth cleaning.
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