When you picture a dentist on Halloween, you probably imagine them handing out apples or toothbrushes. The fact is that most dentists don’t hand out these things when kids come to their doors on Halloween, but at the same time, you’re not going to find us handing out jawbreakers or Sour Patch Kids, even if doing so could increase our caseload!
Instead, we try to toe the line between finding a mouth-healthy alternative to candy that won’t leave kids skipping our house as word of mouth spreads about what we’re handing out. If you want to keep kids’ mouths in mind when handing out candy this year, check out these five alternatives to candy.
Straws
Odds are you can find some fun holiday-themed straws at a grocery store or dollar store in your area. From crazy, twisty straws to colored options, there are plenty of cool straws you can give away that children will find interesting.
Pencils
If you think giving away straws isn’t the best option for our planet, give away some spooky pens or pencils. If kids are going door to door, odds are they are in school and using a pen or pencil on a regular basis. You can buy a bulk package of Halloween-themed pens or pencils at a nearby dollar store or pharmacy.
Pretzels
Depending on your grocery or bulk-foods store, you may be able to find individually wrapped bags of snack-size pretzels. Pretzels or crackers are much better for your teeth than sugary options, so if you’re willing to spend a little more to protect the teeth of the neighbor kids, consider buying snack packs of pretzels or crackers.
Temporary Tattoos
Temporary tattoos are cheap, fun and a cool alternative to another Snickers bar. You may have to look online to find a big enough pack of temporary tattoos, but if you plan enough in advance, you should be able to find some cool Halloween designs in time for the holiday.
Rings
Believe it or not, one of the bigger hits in our neighborhood last year were little plastic rings that had fake spiders on them. They were cheap, looked interesting and didn’t cause any problems for teeth. Fake Dracula teeth are another option, but they can be a choking hazard for some children, so only give those out to older Trick or Treaters.
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