KOOKY SPOOKY GOODIE Guide

Halloween has always been one of my favorite days of the year, and it fills me with nostalgia for my youth. Thankfully, long gone are the days when I would binge on far-too-many Halloween sweet treats, and suffer the eventual tooth decay that always followed. As parents, we all want to protect our kid’s teeth and overall health, yet still allow them to enjoy lots of Halloween fun.

If you are like me, you may have considered handing out healthier sugar-free treats to the excited trick-or-treaters at your door on Halloween (or, God forbid, toothbrushes... that's such a dentist-thing-to-do). Consider this fun alternative option. Instead of giving out candy this year, consider some of these fun giveaways on Hallow’s Eve. Most younger kids (ages 4-10) will love these. Teens – probably not so much.

12 FUN ALTERNATIVES TO CANDY 1. Sugar-free gum or candy (find these as some stores, or ask us how to get a bag-full!) 2. Plastic goofy, zombie or vampire teeth set (some even glow-in-the-dark) 3. Halloween stickers 4. Party-favor sunglasses 5. Small cans of play-doh (or “SLIME”) 6. Noisemakers 7. Pencils with Halloween erasers 8. Halloween bouncy balls 9. Temporary tattoos 10. Small bubble-making bottles 11. Rubber or plastic creepy crawlies (bugs, snakes, bats) 12. Glow sticks or glow-bracelets - great for visibility while

trick-or-treating after dark Happy Halloween from all of us at ConfiDental! Stay safe and be smart. Dr. Dwayne Kowalchuk, BSc, DMD