Take care of your family’s teeth and gums this Halloween
The year has sped by — can you believe that Halloween is here already? This year’s festivities might look a little different than before, but if you are planning on serving up some Halloween-themed treats at home it’s important that you don’t forget to consider your family’s oral health when putting together a menu. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with the occasional sweet treat, but Halloween often brings with it a sugar overload. This year, why not swap some of the usual candy and chocolate for more healthy treats? Read on for some family-friendly ideas…
Fruit skewers (with a spooky twist)
For a fun and easy treat, thread some fruit of your choice onto a skewer — blueberries, strawberries and melon are all tasty, refreshing options. To incorporate a bit of a Halloween theme, include a marshmallow on each skewer and use food colouring to draw a little ghost face. Kids will love the spooky twist, and the candy component of this treat is minimal so you don’t have to worry about the little ones eating too much sugar! Just make sure that your kids stick to their usual oral hygiene routine after eating these treats by brushing their teeth thoroughly and drinking plenty of water.
Fun smoothie jars
Smoothies are a great way to pack in loads of fruits and veggies in a tasty way, and it’s possible to try endless combinations. For a fun Halloween-themed smoothie, try combining frozen bananas, berries and spinach — this will make a beautiful green coloured mix. Pour the smoothie into a glass jar and then use a marker to draw a scary face onto the jar — try a Frankenstein face, for example, for a character your kids will love. For a jack-o-lantern themed smoothie jar, simply use orange fruits and veggies such as mango, carrots and oranges and decorate the jar accordingly.
Apple mummies
A great option for fruit lovers, apple mummies look cute and are a perfect, healthy snack. Simply cut each apple in half vertically and remove the core, then begin at one edge of the apple and use a vegetable peeler to remove strips of the apple skin so that it resembles a little mummy. Once you have finished peeling off strips of apple skin, press chocolate chips, raisins or dried berries into the apple to create eyes. To make sure that the ‘eyes’ stay in, use a knife to create small holes which they will slot into. For an extra treat, consider serving your mummy apples with a dip of Greek yoghurt or peanut butter. Yum!
Orange jack-o-lanterns
This one is super simple — all you need to do is use a black marker to draw jack-o-lantern faces onto oranges. Not only will kids love the fact that their fruity snacks look more fun than usual, these snacks also make great decorations as part of your Halloween spread.
Stick to healthy habits
Remember that good oral hygiene at home goes a long way in maintaining healthy teeth and gums in the long term. Remind your children about the importance of brushing and flossing and encourage them to eat a healthy, balanced diet as much as possible.
For more advice about how to maintain healthy teeth and gums, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Our team loves to share tips and information and provides care to the whole family. If it’s been a while since your last check-up and clean, make an appointment — we look forward to seeing you again! We offer a wide range of treatments — to take a look at the services we provide, click here.