Five ways to have healthier Halloween :

Choose the Right Candy:

Hard, sticky, and sour candy are usually the ones to watch for your oral health. These candies either quickly get stuck to their teeth or stay in their mouth longer, giving sugar to bacteria, which could lead to tooth decay. A simple chocolate bar is actually their best bet as it quickly disintegrates in their mouth. And if you can swing dark chocolate with less sugar, even better.

Find a Candy Buy-Back Program:

There a lot of healthy Halloween tips out there, but here's a different one worth remembering. A little bartering from a buy-back program with your child may do the "trick." Many dentist offices and health-oriented businesses collect Halloween candy and offer up to $1 per pound. The candy is then donated to a worthy cause. When was the last time a $5 toy of their choice caused a cavity? Now, 5 pounds of candy, that's more likely. There may be no candy, but it's a sweet deal for everyone.

3. Binge, Don't Graze:

Halloween isn't a month-long holiday celebration from late November to late December. It's one night. So it's best to condense the snacking for everyone's own good. It's simple —after trick-or-treating, give your child or children a small window of time to enjoy their goodies.

Opt for Healthy Treats:

Pre-packaged candy is what we all know and grew up on. But since we all eat with our eyes first, making healthier alternatives that look more enticing than lollipops or taffy will do wonders for their smile. Your options are really endless:

• Pumpkin oranges

• Banana ghosts

• Cheese Stick fingers

• Monster Mouths

• Veggie Skeletons

Don't Forget to Brush:

Whether it's the last day of summer or the last evening in October, kids and adults should be brushing twice a day and flossing daily. While brushing for 2 minutes is recommended, it wouldn't hurt to shoot for 3 minutes on the 31st after they've come down from their sugar high. It's better than making a trip to the dentist in November to treat the cavitiesthat have formed on their fangs. Now that can be really scary.