Healthy Halloween Treats

Halloween is only a few weeks away. What do you plan on handing out to the kids that come to your front door in hopes that their costume will be frightening enough to scare you into giving them candy, or they look so pretty and dainty that you could never pass up giving them something sweet? Candy is the easiest option these days in our quick-paced world. But the same time, thought and energy it takes to drive to the store, choose the oodles of candy and then wait in line to purchase the sugary snacks can also be used to get healthy options to give out on All Hollow’s Eve. 

Non-food Options

What a better way to encourage a healthy Halloween then to give out treats that aren’t edible. Some of these options include: Halloween stickers; Halloween-themed pencils and other handy items; balloons for the kids to blow up later; bouncy balls, crayons, and toothbrushes. Many of these items can be found at a party store, large super stores or even a dollar store.

Food Options

Perhaps you want to stick with tradition and give the kids trick-or-treating an option they can put their teeth into. Some of these options include: all natural fruit leather; string cheese; granola bars; little boxes of raisins; single serve bags of mini pretzels homemade popcorn in baggies; and of course apples.

 

The possibilities have few limits. You can choose between something fun the child will enjoy for several days like bubbles or a temporary tattoo.  It all simple depends on how creative you want be yourself.

When Should You Call a Dentist

More often than not, people wait till it’s too late to call and make an appointment to see the dentist, yet if they have a cold, they do not hesitate to see their doctor. Proper dental care is just as important as your overall health. With that in mind, we’d like to take a few minutes and break down what falls under dental care versus dental emergency. Just as pneumonia symptoms should be taken seriously, so should some dental issues.

It is highly recommended by most dentists, including AffleckDental, to visit a dentist every 6 months for a cleaning and overall exam. This is similar to preventive checkups you regularly schedule with a physician and should be given similar priority. There are of course other reasons to make an appointment with your dentist:

1)      If your gums bleed when you touch them or while brushing your teeth;
2)      If your teeth are loose or don’t seem to fit together anymore;
3)      If your gums are red, swollen or tender;
4)      If your gums pull or shrink away from the teeth;
5)      Bad breath that does not go away;
6)      Sores that last more than 2 weeks;
7)      Or for a general toothache.

These are all symptoms that when diagnosed soon enough can most likely be treated. There are also times when a person should seek emergency services, such as when a filling or crown is lost or if there as been an injury to the face, jaws or teeth. Irreparable damage can occur if any nerves are exposed for a long period of time. If you have any questions about whether or not you should make an appointment to see a dentist, give us a call and the staff at Affleck Dental will be more than happy to help you out.