Britain’s chief dental surgeons have issued a stark warning ahead of Halloween, claiming the festivities are putting children at risk of tooth decay.
Parents have been advised not to allow kids to eat all their Halloween sweets ‘in one sitting’ — and bin sugary drinks and any sweets that can get stuck in the teen.
The public have also been called on to do their part by handing out toys as treats — as these won’t damage the teeth.
Dental chief Dr Charlotte Eckhardt, of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCSE), said they didn’t want to be killjoys — but added that lollipops could be ‘problematic’.
‘We don’t want to be too draconian about one night of festivities, but this should be regarded as an occasion and not the norm.
‘You want to avoid sugar grazing as that’s more problematic for oral health.
‘One of the best things you can do is to avoid lollipops, as they expose children’s teeth to sugar for longer, increasing the risk of decay.’
Dental chief Dr Charlotte Eckhardt, of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCSE), said they didn’t want to be killjoys — but added that lollipops could be ‘problematic’
The public have been called on to do their part by handing out toys as treats — as these won’t damage the teeth
The RCSE added that children should be encouraged to opt for water instead of sugary drinks at Halloween parties.
Other tips include giving kids a new toothbrush as a reward after they finish their treats.
The RCSE suggest that if it is in a favourite colour or carrying a cartoon character it might entice them to brush even more.
Parents should also make sure they brush ‘with a fluoride toothpase’ before going to be ‘even if they’re tired’.
The RCS pointed out that tooth decay is the leading cause for hospital admissions among children.
Some 19,381 children aged five to nine in England were admitted to hospital because of tooth decay according to NHS England data in 2023/2024 alone.
The warning comes after it was revealed that one in six children leave primary school with rotten teeth after gorging on sugary treats and failing to brush properly.
The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities examined 53,073 children aged 10 and 11 and found 16 per cent had signs of tooth decay.
Affected pupils had two rotten teeth on average.
Almost half of children have been unable to see dentist in the past year with more than 5million now overdue an appointment, figures released last month show.
Daisy Cooper, the Liberal Democrat’s health spokesperson, said: ‘It’s a scandal that, across the country, millions of children are going without basic dental care.’
