Make Halloween a Treat for Your Child's Health

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Delta Dental Plan of Arizona
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PHOENIX, Oct. 19, 1998 -- The snaggle-toothed grin of a jack o'lantern is a good reminder of what too much Halloween candy and improper dental hygiene can to do a child's teeth.

"If a child eats sugary sweets, then goes to bed without brushing and flossing properly, the effect can be ghastly," says Kirk Kroloff, President and CEO of Delta Dental Plan of Arizona. "Frequent exposure to sweets is the best way to bring out the demon of tooth decay. Tooth decay is progressive, and as we all know, extracted teeth are gone for good."

Here are some fun and creative ways to protect your child's bewitching smile and encourage good dental-care habits this Halloween (without seeming like a monster).

• Serve a healthy dinner. A good meal before trick-or-treating leaves less room for sugary sweets.
  
  
• Offer tooth-friendly fare to trick-or-treaters. Consider sugar-free treats or travel sizes of toothpaste and dental floss.
• Make sure candy is age-appropriate. Don't give children ages five and under jawbreakers or hard candies. These can chip teeth or cause choking.
  
  
• Inspect treats before children eat them. Check candy for loose or torn wrappers. Discard the candy if you suspect tampering, and call your local police if you find anything suspicious.
  
  
• Set up a candy "bank." Allow your child four or five pieces of candy, then store the rest in a sealed container (freeze chocolates and candy bars). Establish times when the "bank" will be open for withdrawals over the next month.
  
  

  "Remember, the frequency of exposure to sweets is the goblin here!" notes Kroloff. "Don't allow children to continually snack on candy. Limit their contact with sweets to once or twice a day after mealtime."

  • Brush and floss before bedtime. Offer a new, brightly-colored toothbrush as a final Halloween treat. Insist on a good brush and flossing before bedtime. Flavored floss can also add fun to the pre-bedtime dental health routine.

  With proper oral hygiene, moderate amounts of candies and sweets can be a fun part of Halloween, without causing any long-term damage to the teeth or gums.

  Delta Dental Plan of Arizona covers more than 450,000 Arizonans through some 1,800 employer groups. With more than 25 years of service in Arizona, Delta Dental Plan of Arizona is a member of Delta Dental Plans Association, a national network of independently operated not-for-profit dental service corporations specializing in dental plan design and administration. Delta Dental Plan of Arizona enjoys the support and commitment of the dental profession with more than 1,800 Participating Dentists throughout the state.

  CONTACT: To help parents and kids scare away tooth decay, Delta Dental Plan of Arizona is offering by fax, free of charge, information on proper oral hygiene -- just call Delta Dental at (602) 938-3131, or toll free at (800) 352-6132, and ask for extension 3975.