Healthnotes Library
Have a Healthy and Safe Halloween!
Published October 2010 / Reviewed October 2011
As the weather turns colder and the leaves start changing colors, parents brace themselves for an annual ritual. The festive time of Halloween conjures up both pleasant memories of their own childhood when they went out “Trick or Treating”, as well as concerns, now as parents, for potential cavities. Without proper precautions, Halloween treats may cause cavity tricks! Here are some guidelines you can follow to ensure a safe Halloween for your children:
- Always check the treats that your kids bring home BEFORE allowing them to eat ANYTHING! NEVER allow your children to eat any commercially prepared treat where the wrapper has been removed or in any way tampered with!
- Be careful with home-prepared items such as home-baked cookies and cakes, home-made candies, and fresh fruits. Unless you know from whom these treats are coming , it may be wiser to discard them. If you are preparing home-made treats for the kids, as a courtesy to other parents, please label all treats with your name, address, telephone number, as well as ingredients (some kids have special food allergies)! If this is not done, your hard work may end up in someone's garbage.
- Halloween Block Parties are a great way to enjoy the holiday in a safe, controlled environment! Who knows? Maybe some parents would enjoy themselves as well!
- After you have checked your child's treats, I recommend that you prepare a treat basket. ALL of the acceptable treats should be placed here. Give your child the choice of a dessert during one meal per day to eat these treats. Dinner is usually the easiest meal. At this dessert time allow your child to eat as much as he/she wants. That's right...as much as he/she wants! This “gorging” ritual may be repeated for 2-3 days. After this, anything left in the treat basket should be discarded (THROWN OUT OF THE HOUSE or DONATED TO A WORTHY CHARITY ORGANIZATION).
Kids that nibble on hoarded Halloween treats for weeks after the holiday are those who usually get more cavities. This is especially true if the snacking occurs between meals rather than during dessert after the meal! This happens because after any meal, tiny food particles are always left over in the mouth that cannot be brushed or flossed away no matter how hard one tries. The bacteria in the mouth eat and eliminate this food and produce acid as a residue after digesting the food particles. This acid pours on the teeth and gums, causing cavities, and contributing to gum irritation. This acid attack can last up to an hour after any meal. So, the frequency with which a person eats the sugary candy can affect how much decay occurs. Eating all the candies in one sitting may give you a tummy ache, but only about 1 hour of decay. Eating the same candies over several days or weeks increases the number of hours of acid attack and consequently the cavity potential.
Also, please remember parents, if you hide some goodies for yourself, you may be saving your kids from cavities but getting them yourself! So, big kids should follow this rule too!
Other safety tips for “Trick or Treaters” to help them celebrate Halloween safely come from the Ruth A. Lawrence Poison and Drug Information Center and Injury Free Coalition for Kids of Rochester.
- Avoid scary houses. Accompany young children, and make sure that older kids travel in groups. Halloween routes should stick to familiar, local neighborhoods.
- Fight chocolate with chocolate. Make sure kids are fed before they hit the sidewalks trick-or-treating. Enjoying a small amount of candy at home prior to hitting the sidewalks can help curb the urge to try new treats before parents have a chance to check them.
- Check candy. Discard treats in faded, torn and partially opened wrappers. Toss anything with signs of re-wrapping. Be especially choosy about small, hard candies which can present choking hazards for small children.
- Be careful with cauldrons. Achieving a smoky, cauldron like punch-bowl with dry ice is a neat party idea, but be sure to not use it in individual glasses; frostbite can occur if it comes in contact with skin.
- Tell kids to ignore Fido, even if he begs. Some treats, like chocolate, can be poisonous to pets.
- Remind kids that it's not a race. Insist that kids take time to cross at corners, look both ways beforehand to check for cars and trucks. There's plenty of time to be safe, even when candy's at stake.
- Choose a smart costume. Dress children in light-colored or reflective clothing so they have a visible glow. You might want to add special reflective tape to candy bags, too. Also, some costumes can be especially flammable—so be careful, when shopping, to choose one that is flame resistant.
- Carry a flashlight. Fresh batteries to light the way will help avoid trips and further increase your child's ability to be seen by cars, etc.
- Paint your child's face. It's safer than having him or her wear a mask, which can slip around and limit visibility. Be sure to choose non-toxic makeup.
- Make your home trick-or-treater friendly. Sweep wet leaves from sidewalks and steps, turn the porch light on and remove garden hoses and lawn ornaments that might cause slips and trips.
- Enjoy safer candlelit pumpkins. Choose votive candles and set them on a sturdy table, away from curtains and other flammable objects. Never leave them unattended.
Halloween is a time for kids and parents to have fun. Following some simple common sense rules can assure a healthy, safe and happy holiday! Have a great time!
About the Author
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Doron Kochman DDS
Doron Kochman DDS, FAAPD, Diplomate, American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, is an Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatric Dentistry in the Department of Clinical Dentistry, at the University of Rochester Strong Memorial Hospital, and Eastman Institute of Oral Health. He is a board certified pediatric dentist and the founder of Pittsford Pediatric Dentistry where he currently practices. Dr. Kochman has lectured and published articles on pediatric dentistry. |
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