Halloween Safety Tips

For kids, Halloween is a chance to dress up, stay up a little past bedtime, and enjoy sugary treats. As a parent, you can help make this exciting holiday safe and healthy for your child. Check out some of these simple tips for keeping your children safe on the scariest night of the year!

Halloween Health and Safety Tips

  • Make sure that your child’s costume is bright and reflective. If the costume isn’t made from a bright material, use reflective tape to ensure that drivers can see your child.
  • Avoid masks that block your child’s eyesight, and opt for face paint or decorative hats or wigs instead.
  • Ensure that both you and your child have a flashlight with fresh batteries.
  • Check your children’s candy and treats for signs of tampering before they dig in. In the case of small children, take the time to check for choking hazards as well.
  • Ensure that costume accessories like swords and knives are dull and flexible.

Oral Health and Halloween

Despite this holiday’s bad dental reputation, Halloween is a great time to teach your kids more about the importance of oral health. Here are some great ways to help you child maintain a healthy smile all year long.

Avoid Candy Deprivation

Imagine—you’re eight years old, and you’ve just brought home a pillow case full of sugary treats—but your parents tell you that you can’t eat them. Most children will feel resentful and deprived, and they will probably end up sneaking candy when you’re not looking.

Let your kids enjoy Halloween and teach them moderation. Instead of outlawing sweets, have your children pick a set number of treats, and put the rest out of sight.

Establish a Teeth Brushing Routine

No matter what day it is, your children should have an established dental hygiene schedule. (Always have your children floss and brush after eating sweets.) Until the age of eight, be sure that you help your child through the teeth cleaning process.

You can help your child see how well he or she has been brushing by using a disclosing tablet or solution. These tablets, which are available for purchase both online and at your local drugstore, reveal bad brushing habits by temporarily staining the plaque on your child’s teeth.

Make Oral Hygiene Fun

Kids are more inclined to practice good oral hygiene habits when they are allowed to choose their toothpaste and toothbrushes. Make Halloween even more special by taking the time to let your child pick out a new toothbrush.

Halloween Event

Stop by and see us at the Flint RiverQuarium’s 4th Annual Tricks & Treats celebration where we will pass out sugar-free candy, toothbrushes, and toothpastes to trick-or-treaters. Bring your children in their spookiest costumes for info on the importance of good dental hygiene, and to enjoy some sugar-free treats on us!

For more information about your child’s oral health and our upcoming events, contact a Vital Smiles Georgia office near you. We have convenient locations in Albany and Norcross.

Cleaning

bottom-cleaning

We keep your child’s teeth sparkling clean with the help of our electric tooth brush (a motorized prophy brush). We then apply bubbles (fluoride) to keep his or her teeth strong.

Filling Cavities

bottom-cavities

We use fun tools like Mr. Bumpy (our slow speed drill) to remove decay. Your child will then receive a silver star (filling), and the tooth will be good as new.

Sealants

bottom-sealants

Sealants are thin, protective coatings used to prevent tooth decay. They fill in the tiny grooves of the tooth surface so that brushing becomes more effective.

X-Rays

bottom-xrays

We use a tooth camera (X-ray machine) to take pictures of your child’s teeth. This gives us a better look at his or her smile. Our Digital X-rays are state of the art, limiting radiation exposure.