As the cool wind blows and the leaves begin to turn red, orange, and yellow, it means that Halloween is almost here! Every year, the spooky season offers fun, costumes, and candy galore! But as a parent, it’s important to consider how those sweet treats can affect your child’s dental health. Not all candies are created equal when it comes to cavities and other dental damage. If you want to know which sweets to embrace and which to avoid this Halloween, read on!
The Worst Offenders for Cavities
To start with, here are some categories of sweets that you should keep an eye out for in your child’s treat bag:
Sticky and Chewy Candies
Examples: Caramels, taffy, gummy bears.
Why They’re Bad: Sticky candies cling to teeth and are tough for saliva to wash away. This allows the leftover sugar to linger on your child’s pearly whites, feeding harmful bacteria that cause cavities. These candies also tend to get stuck in hard-to-reach places between teeth, making it hard for kids to brush them away.
Sour Candies
Examples: Sour gummies, sour powder candies.
Why They’re Bad: Sour candies are highly acidic, which can weaken tooth enamel and make teeth more vulnerable to decay. The combination of acidity and sugar makes these treats double trouble when it comes to dental health!
Hard Candies
Examples: Lollipops, jawbreakers, butterscotch discs.
Why They’re Bad: Hard candies dissolve slowly, bathing your child’s mouth in sugar for several minutes (and sometimes an hour or more!) This vastly increases the likelihood of enamel erosion that leads to cavities. To make matters worse, if your child bites down on one of these hard-shelled sweets, they risk chipping or cracking their teeth!
Super Sweets to the Rescue!
So, what candies should you substitute for these? Here are some truly super-powered options that can save the day on Halloween:
Plain Chocolate
Examples: Milk chocolate bars, dark chocolate squares.
Why They’re Good: Chocolate melts quickly and doesn’t stick to teeth, which helps reduce the time sugar is in contact with your child’s enamel. Dark chocolate, in particular, is a better choice because it contains less sugar than milk chocolate and has potential health benefits. Just make sure you check the nutrition label!
Powdery Candies
Examples: Pixy Stix, powder-filled candy straws.
Why They’re Good: While sugary, powdery candies are another treat that dissolves fast and doesn’t stick to teeth. However, like milk chocolate, it’s best to limit the amount of powder they get. Consider keeping a water bottle nearby to help rinse off some of the excess sugar.
Sugar-Free Gum
Examples: Gum sweetened with xylitol.
Why They’re Good: Sugar-free gum can actually help clean teeth by stimulating saliva production. This washes away food particles and neutralizes acids, naturally protecting your child’s enamel. In addition, xylitol also helps reduce harmful bacteria in their mouth!
By being mindful of the candy your child eats and encouraging good dental habits, you can keep their smile healthy this Halloween. Try to grab treats that are less harmful to your child’s fangs, and let the spooky fun continue without the scare of cavities!
About the Practice
Pediatric dentist Dr. Cory and orthodontist Dr. Nicole offer scary good dental care at G&G Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics! Whether it’s tips for a cavity-free Halloween or regular checkups for your child, our friendly team is here to guide your family every step of the way. Call (630) 778-9500 to schedule an appointment for your child or visit our website to explore our services.
