Ready for some scary facts about Halloween? According to the National Confectioners Association, the average American eats more than 24 lbs. (that’s two dozen POUNDS, people) of candy per year. Kids, not surprisingly, consume the largest amount of candy around Halloween, but they’re not the only culprits — 90 percent of parents admit to dipping into their kids’ trick-or-treat bags (bite-sized chocolate candies are apparently our sneak-treat of choice — I won’t argue with that!). Still, according to the American Dental Association, only 44 percent of kids brush their teeth twice a day. With that in mind, it’s no wonder the ADHA has declared October National Dental Hygiene Month. Here are a few things we like that will help your kids keep their pearly whites in tip-top shape.
Tooth Tales
The customizable children’s books Going to the Dentist and I Have a Cavity, available at MyOwnStory.com($4.99 each), are artistically animated picture books that teach children the importance of taking care of their teeth and making regular visits to the dentist. They’re a great way to introduce a toddler to his first dentist appointment or transition little ones into a new routine of dental care as they step out of the toddler years and into the “big kid” years. These books allow parents to customize by gender, child’s name, and even your exact dentist’s name, so they may be helpful as social stories for kids on the autism spectrum.
Now Playing…
Arm & Hammer’s new Tooth Tunes battery-powered toothbrushes ($9.99; batteries included) encourage kids to brush for the ADA-recommended 2 minutes by playing a pop song snippet. Sound vibrations stream from the bristles of the toothbrush through the teeth, so you hear the music in your head as you brush. Each brush includes one song, with featured songs ranging from chart-topping pop songs (such as “All Day” by Cody Simpson and “I Gotta Feeling” by the Black Eyed Peas) to classic rock anthems like “We Will Rock You” by Queen. Recommended for kids 3 and older; available at CVS, Walgreens, and other national food and drug stores.
For Tiny Tots
For younger kids, there’s the Baby Banana Brush. There are two versions: The Teether/Toothbrush ($11.99; amazon.com) for kids younger than 1 and the Original Baby Banana Brush ($7.99; amazon.com). Both are designed to be flexible and bendable — to prevent kids from injuring their mouths on the hard plastic of traditional toothbrushes. They’re also safe to stick in the dishwasher.
Got Zombie Mouth?
The American Dental Association has partnered with PopCap Games to launch the Stop Zombie Mouth campaign this fall, equipping parents and dentists with a tooth-friendly alternative to candy. Parents and other adults who host trick-or-treating children on Halloween are encouraged to download free game coupons (redeemable for the full PC/Mac edition of PopCap’s Plants vs. Zombies; a $19.95 value) at stopzombiemouth.com and distribute these instead of candy. The site also has free printable coloring pages, Halloween masks, and Halloween party invites, plus links to find a dentist and learn more about keeping your mouth healthy.
