Halloween treats can take a toll on young teeth

Dressing up and collecting candy may be the highlight of Halloween for little ghouls and tiny princesses, but it’s up to their parents to make sure the annual orgy of sweets doesn’t affect young teeth.

That’s according to the American Dental Association, Delta Dental Washington Dental Service and other agencies that cringe when Oct. 31 rolls around.

It’s not too late to ensure healthy dental habits for the trick-or-treaters in your home or neighborhood. Following are tips to help prevent or decrease tooth decay, which is accelerated by candy and other sweet foods.

•Limit treats. The kids won’t like to hear this, but decay is accelerated when sweets linger in the mouth. That’s because long-lasting snacks spur formation of bacterial acids every time they enter the mouth. Instead of letting kids nibble at will, limit candy to mealtimes or specified snacks.

•Drink up. Encourage kids to drink water throughout the day and evening, especially after eating sweets. The water will help rinse sugar away from the teeth until it’s time to brush.

•Eat a good dinner. A healthy meal will leave less room for candy.

•Get a new toothbrush. As a final Halloween treat, offer kids a new, brightly colored toothbrush. Make sure kids brush and floss thoroughly before bed.

•Offer tooth-friendly treats. At the risk of being branded worse than the neighbor who hands out apples and raisins, consider offering sugar-free candy or travel-sized toothbrushes, floss packets and toothpaste.

•Throw it out. It’s a harsh suggestion, sure, but the ADA proposes that parents allow kids a few treats and dump the rest. Most grown-ups won’t have the heart for this – at least until they’ve snagged the Snickers themselves.

INHS to coordinate regional telehealth services

Spokane’s Inland Northwest Health Services will coordinate a new regional center for telehealth programs, thanks to a $310,000 renewable grant from the federal Department of Health and Human Services.

The grant creates the Northwest Regional Telehealth Resource Center, which will help develop and expand electronically linked health services that bring education, information and care to far-flung sites. The center opened in September.

“We can leverage a lot of the great programs we have across multiple states now,” said Denny Lordan, the new executive director of the resource center.

The local site will be one of five federal centers that ensure telehealth programs are used collaboratively and effectively.

Lawmakers take steps for Idaho schools

Four North Idaho schools received checks for $500 apiece after their local legislators won a walking competition sponsored by a state insurance company.

Bonners Ferry High School, Clark Fork Junior-Senior High School, Sandpoint High School and Priest River Lammana High School each received money to be used for fitness-related activities or equipment.

Three District 1 representatives donned pedometers and walked 1,124,169 steps during a six-week competition from Feb. 1 to March 15. They included Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint; Rep. Eric Anderson, R-Priest Lake; and Rep. George Eskridge, R-Dover. They were among 40 of 105 state lawmakers who participated in the contest sponsored by Regence BlueShield of Idaho.

The contest is aimed at emphasizing the need for physical activity to counteract a national obesity epidemic.