With an abundance of sweet treats around the house, Halloween can be a tricky time for our teeth. But that doesn鈥檛 mean you have to forbid your children from trick-or-treating door to door, and you don鈥檛 have to throw out all their candy when they get home.

鈥淚t鈥檚 possible to maintain healthy teeth and gums while still enjoying sweets from time to time. The more dental hygiene habits you practice every day, the better your chances of avoiding tooth decay and maintaining a healthy smile,鈥� says Dr. Fatemeh Basij, DDS, owner of in 91原创.

5 tips for healthy teeth and a happy Halloween

1. Time it right: Eat Halloween candy with meals, or just after. Your body produces more saliva while you eat, and that helps rinse away food particles and balance the acids produced by food bacteria in your mouth. Restricting treats to mealtime also helps you keep track of how many sweets you鈥檙e eating through the day 鈥� and may reduce the constant requests from your kids!
2. Avoid hard and sticky candies: The longer sweets stay in your mouth, the more potential for tooth decay. That means caramels, jawbreakers and other candies that stay in your mouth a long time have a greater chance of damaging your teeth.
3. Drink water: Water rinses away sugar and other food residue, keeping teeth clean and reducing the chance for tooth decay. It also helps balance the pH level in your mouth, which sugar can make too acidic. Remember to avoid sugary drinks if you can!
4. Trick-or-treating with braces: If someone in your family wears braces, remember to avoid nuts, popcorn, corn chips, hard and chewy candies, as these foods may damage their braces. Chocolate and other treats are still safe to enjoy!
5. Keep up with daily dental hygiene: Brush your teeth for two minutes every morning and evening, and remember to floss once a day. 鈥淔lossing helps remove bits of food and plaque from between your teeth and under the gum line where your toothbrush can鈥檛 reach,鈥� Dr. Basij says.

Trick-or-treat at Allard Dental Centre Oct. 31 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.!

Visit Allard Dental Centre this Halloween for a free goody bag filled with treats, a toothbrush and toothpaste! While the dental office is usually closed on Mondays, they鈥檒l be open from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. just for trick-or-treaters.

Book your appointment at or call 604-882-0568. Their office is conveniently with abundant free parking, wheelchair and walker accessibility, and simultaneous appointments to accommodate families. Find them on and for more dental tips.