Boo! Don’t let Halloween haunt your smile, warns ADA

Ghosts, ghouls and gummy worms are about to descend on Australian doorsteps, and the Australian Dental Association (ADA) has one message for the nation this Halloween: treat your teeth as kindly as you treat the trick or treaters.
 
Dr Monica Farrelly, your friendly dentist and self-confessed Halloween tragic, says there's no need to be a party pooper this 31 October. The trick is knowing how to enjoy the sugar without summoning the tooth fairy's evil twin, the cavity.
 
"I love Halloween. The costumes, the decorations, the dramatics, all of it," said Dr Farrelly. "But I've also seen what a lolly bag binge can do to a smile, so I like to think of myself as the friendly face at the end of the lolly bag who still lets you have fun, just a bit more mindful."
 
Dr Farrelly's spooky season survival tips:

• Feast, don't graze. Eat your treats in one sitting rather than snacking all day. Constant sugar exposure is what really spooks your enamel.

• Pick your poison wisely. Chewy, sticky lollies love to move in and set up camp between your teeth.

• Send in the reinforcements. A big glass of water after the sugar rush helps rinse away the ghosts of Halloween treats past.

• Don't skip the nightly ritual. A proper brush with fluoride toothpaste and flossing between your teeth before bed is the real Halloween tradition worth keeping.

• Sour lollies are the real villains. They're highly acidic and can do more damage to enamel than your average chocolate frog.
 
Dr Farrelly says Halloween is also the perfect excuse for a fang check. "If the kids are already obsessed with fake vampire teeth, it's a great moment to talk about looking after their real ones."
 
The ADA's advice for a happy, healthy Halloween: enjoy the treats in moderation, skip the tricks, and see your dentist if that sugar hangover lingers a little too long.