We know we posted this last year, after Halloween, but trust us when we say that it’s worth reading, again and again, every year. So many kids look forward to Halloween, and we know it’s too much to ask them and parents to restrict kids’ candy intake on Halloween and afterward. It’s a great idea, but it won’t exactly succeed, especially since trick-or-treating is all about getting as much candy as possible. Therefore, we ask that parents remove the following types of candy from your kids’ treat bags. These candies are the most harmful to your children’s teeth, and removing them could save you a costly dental visit down the road.
That said, we hope everyone has a very happy and safe Halloween!
Sour Candies
Sour candies have a much lower pH than other candies, which means they are far more acidic than other candies. While sugar is a “bad” component to candy or really any consumable item, high acidity levels do far more damage. For instance, it’s the carbonic acid found in soft drinks that make them so damaging to your teeth and not as much the sugar. This is why even switching to diet soft drinks is still harmful to your teeth.
With sour candies, it’s almost as bad as drinking one soda. The high acidity coupled with the sugar makes them one of the unhealthiest candies for your teeth. Be sure to fish these out of your kids’ sacks.
Chewy Candies
Anything that is sticky or chewy should be avoided, including taffy (soft and hard taffy), licorice, gummy candies, and anything with caramel. Chewy candies like these can get stuck in grooves in between teeth. While they will be washed out with saliva and brushing, it takes a long time for saliva to wash out sticky foods, and unless it’s a thorough brushing accompanied by flossing, cleaning your teeth won’t remove all of the sticky sugar either.
With the sugar constantly pressed against your teeth, it’s a viable and inviting buffet for decay-causing bacteria.
For hard, bite-sized taffies like Now and Laters, there is the risk of popping a filling if it gets stuck over a molar.
Super-Hard Candies
This class includes many classics, including Jawbreakers, Gobstoppers, and butter candies. With super-hard candies, there’s always the potential for cracking or chipping a tooth if the child bites down on it.
Gorging on candy is never wise, to begin with, whether it’s for general health or dental health, but Halloween is a special occasion so this is one time it’s okay to let your kids indulge a little. However, be sure to remove these types of candies from your kids’ options and get them to brush their teeth immediately after they are done ransacking their bags of treats.