Tips for a Healthier Halloween

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- As trick-or-treaters head out for their annual assault on the neighborhood, health officials from the University of Washington, in Seattle, and Harvard University, in Boston, have some good tips for parents who want to ensure a safe and healthy experience for their kids.

According to Joel Berg, M.D., chair of the department of pediatric dentistry at UW, Halloween doesn't have to mean more cavities down the road. Brushing before bedtime on Halloween night is the first order of business. He also suggests avoiding chewy treats, as these are more likely to stick to the teeth and cause problems. Flossing before brushing can help as well, because plaque and debris loosened by flossing can then be brushed away.

"Going to bed after eating handfuls of candy can be especially dangerous," Dr. Berg warns. "The dryness of the mouth at night is a playground for decay-causing bacteria."

Harvard officials say parents can avoid too much candy in the first place by hosting a Halloween pizza party for kids instead where kids decorate their own jack-o'-lantern pizzas with healthy foods like onions, peppers or olives. If candy is going to be part of the evening, limit how much kids eat, then put the rest up and hand it out sparingly over the year. Also make sure to check all candy before kids eat it to ensure it hasn't been tampered with.

When it comes to costumes, the best advice to is make sure they are made of safe materials, don't interfere with vision or walking, and are equipped with reflective tape. Kids should also carry flashlights when out trick-or-treating, and everyone should ensure their homes are free from hazards before hosting trick-or-treaters. Also don't let kids loose with a knife when carving pumpkins -- let the child draw on the face, but parents should do the actual carving.

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SOURCE: University of Washington Health Sciences in Seattle, Harvard Health Publications in Boston, Oct. 25, 2005