By james art The Royal College of Surgeons of England has offered advice to help children avoid tooth decay as children prepare to collect an abundance of sweets as they feast on them.
This includes avoiding lollipops and sticky sweets.
In the meantime, the public can do their part by handing out stickers or play dough instead of candy, according to the college’s Department of Dental Surgery.
Dr Charlotte Eckhardt, Dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of England, said: “While we don’t want to be too draconian about a night of celebrations, it is a good reminder that this should be seen as an occasion, rather than the norm, you want to avoid excessive sugar as this is more problematic for oral health.
“One of the best things you can do is to avoid lollipops, as long-term consumption exposes children’s teeth to sugar for a longer period of time, increasing the risk of tooth decay.”
Advice issued by the Faculty includes:
– Parents are advised not to let their children eat all of their Halloween candy at once.
– Children should avoid sweets that can stick to the teeth.
– People handing out Halloween treats can offer “alternatives like stickers or play dough.”
– They should also limit the number of sweets given to each child.
– Children should be encouraged to choose water over sugary drinks at Halloween parties.
– And youngsters should be given a new toothbrush after they’ve finished their treats, with the RCS saying that if it’s in a favorite color or has a cartoon character on it, it can entice them to brush even more.
– Parents should make sure their children brush their teeth with fluoride toothpaste before bed, even if they are tired.
The RCS indicated that tooth decay is the leading cause of hospitalization among children.
In 2023/24, around 19,381 children aged five to nine in England were admitted to hospital because of tooth decay, according to NHS England figures.