Don't Let Kids' Teeth Become a Fright.

Halloween tips for parents

ATLANTA -- You may already be working on making a pint-sized magic wand, perfecting FrankensteineIUs makeup and scoping out the safest neighborhood trick-or-treating route. With all the plans to be made for Halloween, parents shouldneIUt 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 eI and adults with a sweet tooth eI tend to snack more on sugary treats.

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

* Give your kids a healthy supper before trick or treating so thereeIUs less room for sweets

* Consider handing out sugar-free candy eI 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 doneIUt go to bed without brushing their teeth

* Choose softer candy eI 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

* Limit the number of treats that your child consumes

eIuHalloween doesneIUt 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,eIN said Dr. Robert Pickron, founder of Pickron Orthodontic Care.

eIuA few occasional treats are okay, but everyone should remember to brush and floss,eIN continues Pickron, who has been in practice for nearly 40 years. eIuThere are better types of Halloween candy eI 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.eIN

With 24 offices in metro Atlanta, Pickron Orthodontic Care is the largest privately owned orthodontic practice in the United States. For more information, visit www.pickron.com.