Treat your teeth this Halloween

Halloween is almost upon us, with it comes scary movies, ghost walks, silly costumes and, typically for children, filling buckets with chocolate, sweets and snacks.

But while the night may be fun and enjoyable for all, it could turn out to be a particularly ghastly for our teeth, says Mike Hesekth of The Exeter Dental Centre.

He said: "Letting children enjoy themselves but finding a compromise could help your child's oral health in the short and long term. And remember, it's not just children this applies too. After all, how many parents out there are dipping into their children's sweets after sending them to bed?

"We've got a few tips to help the night end happily for our teeth:

• Keep sweets to mealtime only to reduce the amount of time the teeth are exposed to sugar
• Don't let kids eat sweets an hour before bedtime, they could risk brushing off enamel that has been weakened by the acidity of saliva
• Perhaps look at offering alternative 'treats' such as cheese, nuts or breadsticks - however, dried fruit is not necessarily a healthier option as they are often sticky and high in sugar
• Supervise your little ghosts an witches when they are brushing their teeth and ensure they use a fluoride toothpaste. Brushing before bed is important as the mouth produces less saliva overnight

"We hope you have a 'Spooktacular' Halloween, happy trick or treating!"

For more information about The Exeter Dental Centra visit them online at www.exeterdentalcentre.co.uk.