Halloween is a special time of year for kids, with lots of costumes, spooky decorations, and of course, trick-or-treating! And while you probably want to ensure that your little one has the best time possible this holiday, you may also be worried that the copious amount of candy they’ll be around could spell bad news for their dental health. Fortunately, there are some types of candy out there that are more smile-friendly than others. Here’s what you need to know.
Halloween Candy That Causes Problems for Teeth
These candies tend to sugar-coat teeth or leave particles lingering in the mouth for a long time, meaning they enable issues like cavities. Try to encourage your child to avoid things like:
- Sticky and chewy candy – Gummy worms, Skittles, Starbursts, taffy, and even caramel can leave sugary residue stuck on or between the teeth, greatly increasing the risk of cavities.
- Hard candies – Jawbreakers, lollipops, Jolly Ranchers, and similar items take a while to consume, meaning that they spend more time exposing your teeth to high amounts of sugar.
- Sour candy – Many kids love trying to see how “tough” they are by eating a lot of sour candy, but the high acidity some of these options have means weaker enamel.
The “Best” Halloween Candy for Your Child’s Smile
These options aren’t healthy in the same way that a piece of fruit or a vegetable is, but compared to other options out there, they don’t pose as much of a threat to teeth:
- Chocolate – It melts quickly and easily rinses off teeth. Dark chocolate is even better, since it contains less sugar than milk chocolate. Chocolate with nuts is also fine, since the crunchy bits help to break up the stickiness of some candy bars.
- Sugar-free chewing gum – Gum made with xylitol, a sweetener substitute, can help to stimulate saliva and wash away food particles.
- Non-candy options – These can be just as fun as getting something sweet. Small toys and trinkets, glow sticks, bouncy balls, stickers, and more are all excellent ideas.
No matter what sort of candy your child ends up getting this Halloween, it’s also important to remind them to enjoy things in moderation and to brush their teeth after!
About the Practice
Under the leadership of Dr. Bryce Cushing, our team here at Surf’s Up Pediatric Dentistry has served families in Papillion and the surrounding communities for several years. We offer a wide range of pediatric dental services for children of all ages, including routine checkups and cleanings to keep smiles healthy year-round. If you have any questions about the blog or need to schedule an appointment for your child, please reach out online or call today for assistance. Telephone: (402) 773-7873.