Halloween doesn’t have to mean trouble for your teeth. The HSE shares practical advice for parents on how kids can enjoy the treats without letting them trick their teeth.
Dr Anne O’Neill, HSE National Oral Health Lead, says; “Sugar is the one ingredient that has a significant impact on oral health because it’s the food source that the bacteria in your mouth love to eat. When bacteria feed on sugar, they produce acid, creating an acidic environment in the mouth that attacks enamel.
“Saliva plays a crucial protective role as it helps to digest food, move it around the mouth, and, importantly, neutralise acid and restores a healthy balance. Every time we eat or drink, we experience what we call an ‘acid attack’. As long as these attacks aren’t too frequent, and saliva has time to bring the mouth back to neutral, your teeth stay protective. It’s when teeth are in contact with too much sugar, too often and for too long we see the damage sugar can cause to teeth.
“This is why we encourage parents to think about the ‘sugar clock’ which is how many times a day their child eats or drinks something sugary. Fewer sugar attacks mean better protection for teeth.
“Between meals, it’s best to stick to water or milk. If you choose flavoured waters, always check the label and look for zero carbohydrates and zero sugars. Even small amounts of sugar in drinks can feed the bacteria in your mouth and lead to decay.”
Dental tricks for Halloween
- Offer treats and sweets at mealtimes to reduce the length of time teeth are exposed to sugar.
- Avoid the hard sugar sweets and lollipops as they take longer to eat, leaving sugar in the mouth for a long time
- Parents should encourage and supervise teeth brushing twice a day for two minutes with fluoride toothpaste.
- Water and milk are the best drinks between meals.
- Offer sugar free treats that don’t cause tooth decay as an alternative like nuts, breadsticks or cheese.
Listen back to Dr Anne O’Neill, HSE National Oral Lead on the HSE Health and Wellbeing podcast (episode 87 - Keeping a Healthier Smile). Dr O'Neill provides practical tips on brushing and flossing, highlighting the impact of diet on dental health, providing tips for parents when it comes to their children’s dental routines and about building in regular daily times to do those small oral health habits at a young age. The HSE Talking Health and Wellbeing Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts and on the HSE Health and Wellbeing YouTube channel.
Last updated on: 29 / 10 / 2025
