A fear-free Halloween (for teeth): Dr. Giorgia's trick-or-treat guide

The real monster isn't the candy, it's the timing

Enamel doesn't fear the amount of sugar as much as the frequency: every time we eat something sweet, mouth bacteria produce acids for about 20-30 minutes. Ten sweets nibbled across the afternoon are far worse than ten sweets eaten all at once after lunch.

The golden Halloween rule: treats are eaten in a single 'candy moment', ideally right after a meal, when saliva is already at work and helps neutralise the acids.

Candy ranking: from the 'scariest' to the most harmless

Avoid or limit: gummies, toffees, caramels and soft liquorice, which stick to teeth and stay in molar grooves for hours; lollipops and hard candies, which keep sugar in the mouth for a long time; sour sweets, which add an acid attack to the sugar attack.

More tolerable: chocolate (especially dark), which melts quickly and is washed away by saliva; plain biscuits; sugar-free gum and sweets with xylitol, which actually help reduce cavity-causing bacteria.

The pumpkin pact: 5 smart moves for parents

1. Before trick-or-treating, a healthy snack: a full tummy raids less.

2. Back home, empty the bucket and sort it together: keep some, 'trade' the rest for a small gift or a special activity (the famous 'candy fairy').

3. One treat a day, after lunch, for a week: then the party is over, no drama.

4. After sweets, a glass of water or a piece of cheese helps clean up and bring pH back to normal.

5. Always brush, but wait 30 minutes after sour sweets or fizzy drinks: brushing enamel 'softened' by acids wears it down.

Spooky toothbrush: turning the routine into a game

Halloween is the perfect time to make brushing an adventure: 'hunt the sugar monsters' for two minutes, with a spooky song or a themed hourglass. Fluoride toothpaste is our protective spell: a pea-sized amount from age 3 to 6, and floss to flush out gummies hidden between the teeth.

After the celebrations, a check-up with Dr. Giorgia is the best way to make sure no trick is left in the molar grooves. Call us at 051 814000: at Smile Club Kids we leave the fear to the costumes. Happy Halloween!