Keep your teeth healthy this halloween.

• Position: Dental Hygiene Month

Halloween is just around the corner, and you obviously will want to celebrate with some sugary treats. According to the National Retail Federation's annual survey, an estimated $2,500,000,000 will be spent to purchase 90,000,000 pounds of candy this Halloween--but remember, October also is National Dental Hygiene Month, notes DentalPlans, Plantation, Fla., a dental health savings marketplace.

"Around holidays like Halloween, it is hard to say no to candy and, oftentimes, it is challenging to motivate your kids to brush correctly or for the recommended two full minutes," says Lisa Landman, registered dental hygienist and a marketing program specialist for DentalPlans.

She provides the following tips to help keep mouths healthy and clean:

Choose treats wisely. Avoid acidic or sticky candy--caramel/candy apples, hard or sour candy, and gummies--which cling to teeth and provide a steady source of fuel for oral bacteria.

Drink water, not sugary beverages. For children, fluorinated water can help combat tooth decay. Be sure kids do not wash down their candy with soda, juice, or sports drinks.

Chew gum and rinse your mouth. Chewing sugarless gum and rinsing increases saliva flow to neutralize acid levels in your mouth and wash away food that is clinging to your teeth.

Moderation. Employ portion control--do not graze on those cute little "fun size" candy bars, which fuel oral bacteria.

Offer healthier alternatives. Chocolate bars are healthier than other sugary treats--and sometimes a chocolate bar fares better than dried fruit like raisins, which stick to your teeth. Apples and...