Halloween is a delightfully fun holiday for children. But beyond the joy of corn mazes, haunted houses, and trick-or-treating lurks annual danger from Halloween candy to your child’s teeth.
The good news is that not all sweets are created equal, and your child can still enjoy Halloween treats! Pediatric dentists Brent Herrin, DMD, and Allison Petty, DMD, of Herrin Pediatric Dentistry in Marietta, GA, share the best Halloween candy for your child’s teeth, and what candy to avoid.
If your child loves Halloween candy, some sweets are safer for their teeth. This year, buy your child:
Chocolate candy is safer for teeth than most other kinds of candy. Instead of sticking to teeth, chocolate easily washes off with your child’s usual brushing habits.
Dark or semi-sweet chocolate is even better than milk chocolate for your child’s teeth because it contains less sugar.
Any candy that contains nuts is better for teeth because the nuts help prevent candy from sticking to teeth. The nuts make brushing your child’s teeth easier while also adding healthy nutrition to their sweets.
Sugar-free candy doesn’t contain sugar, making it less dangerous for your child’s teeth. Chewing or sucking on sugar-free treats also helps saliva flow in your child’s mouth without exposing them to sugar.
On the other hand, some types of Halloween candy are especially dangerous. Avoid the following candy at Halloween, or limit it to small quantities:
Candies like caramel, taffy, and gummy worms tend to stick to your child’s teeth and are harder to brush off. This increases the potential damage caused by the sugars in the candy.
Lollipops, peppermints, and other hand candies can cause your child to chip or break a tooth from chewing on them. They also can cause sugars to stick to your child’s teeth because they’re in their mouth for an extended period.
Any kind of sour candy contains acid harmful to your child’s teeth. They can cause the tooth enamel to erode, increasing the risk of cavities.
With a few sensible habits, your entire family can have Halloween treats without putting your teeth at risk. The best time for your child to eat Halloween treats is as part of a meal, as the extra saliva helps rinse harmful bacteria out of their mouth.
To enjoy an occasional hard candy, have your child sip water periodically while they suck on it. This also helps get any sugars from the candy rinsed off the teeth.
Your child should also brush and floss their teeth immediately after eating a Halloween treat, even if it’s just a piece or two of candy. This gets any bad bacteria and stuck pieces of candy out of your child’s mouth immediately.
Finally, keep candy out of sight and limit consumption, especially of the most dangerous kinds, to a sensible number of pieces a day or week.
With good year-round oral health habits and a measured approach during the holiday, Halloween can be a fun and safe holiday for your child. If you live in the Marietta, Georgia area, contact us to schedule a pediatric dentistry visit for your child.
