Anyone contemplating handing out sweets to trick or treaters this Halloween have been urged to think of the damage all that sugar can do to a child’s teeth.
Dr Bill Manning, a dentist in the US, has instead urged people to give away money as this will not cause cavities or gum disease – leading to fewer trips to the emergency dentist for kids.
"Visiting your dentist twice a year and brushing daily are great preventative measures, but doing away with excess sweets altogether would really give your teeth a healthy boost," Dr Manning noted.
He added that by doing this, children still get to have all the fun of trick or treating, while also giving their piggy banks a healthy boost at the same time.
Meanwhile, a recent study carried out by the North West Public Health Observatory revealed that children in the north-west of England have the highest rate of oral health problems in the country.