You may already be working on making a pint-sized magic wand, perfecting Frankenstein’s makeup and scoping out the safest neighborhood trick-or-treating route.

With all the plans to be made for Halloween, parents shouldn’t forget that the scariest part of October might be the effect on teeth of all those sweets kids will consume.

Fortunately, Halloween shares October with National Orthodontic Health Month and National Dental Hygiene Month. As Halloween nears, children – and adults with a sweet tooth – tend to snack more on sugary treats.

While there is no shortage of safety tips for children around Halloween, Pickron Orthodontic Care, with 24 locations in metro Atlanta, offers these suggestions to help parents make Halloween a little less scary:

• Give your kids a healthy supper before trick or treating so there’s less room for sweets.

• Consider handing out sugar-free candy – even some healthy snacks like dried fruit include acids that harm tooth enamel.

• Encourage kids to drink water throughout the day, especially after eating candy, to help rinse away sugars between brushings.

• Make sure your little goblins don’t go to bed without brushing their teeth.

• Choose softer candy – hard candy can chip teeth and has sugar that sticks to teeth.

• If your child wears braces, forget caramels, licorice, toffee or other sticky, chewy candies and avoid bubble gum, which can break braces or wires.

• Put a limit on the number of treats that your child consumes.

“Halloween doesn’t have to be fearful for parents. By following guidance on dental hygiene and avoiding certain foods, you can enjoy treats and keep your kids on track toward a healthy, beautiful smile,’’ said Dr. Robert Pickron, founder of Pickron Orthodontic Care.
“A few occasional treats are okay, but everyone should remember to brush and floss,” continues Pickron, who has been in practice for nearly 40 years. “There are better types of Halloween candy – stay away from sticky or gummy candy.

As a rule, the less time a piece of candy stays in the mouth, the less harmful it is to teeth.”
With 24 offices located in metro Atlanta, Pickron Orthodontic Care is the largest privately owned orthodontic practice in the United States.

Pickron Orthodontic Care also operates Project Smile – a community outreach program that directs patients to donate the cost of replacement retainers to support one of five Georgia charities.

Voted 2005 Best Dentist in Gwinnett County by Gwinnett Magazine, Pickron also works to support education and build awareness of dental health care in schools by donating orthodontic emergency supply kits.
For more information about Pickron Orthodontic Care, visit www.pickron.com or call 770-448-8882.

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