Parenting is all about finding a balance between what makes your child happy and what’s good for them. There’s no time of the year when that’s truer than Halloween. If your kids had their way, they’d probably gorge themselves on sugar morning, noon, and night. While you shouldn’t let them go that far, your child can still have a sweet October without the cavities. Knowing that some candies are better for their teeth than others, and which is which, is important to making decisions about what your family should eat. In that spirit, here’s a brief rundown of common Halloween candies, how likely they are to cause tooth decay, and why.
The Hazard of Halloween Candy
Before we get into which candies are better or worse than others, we need to understand what makes them bad for our teeth in the first place. Candy contains a lot of sugar, which is why we love it. That sugar, however, can feed the bacteria in our mouths, causing them to secrete a corrosive acid. That acid is what causes cavities. The more sweets we eat, and the longer they stay in our mouths, the more acid there’ll be.
What Candies Should Your Child Eat?
The best candies for our teeth are the ones that melt away quickly because there’s less time for them to feed the bacteria in our mouths. Chocolate is a great example of a delicious treat that doesn’t stick around too long. Hershey Bars and Reese’s Cups are some Halloween favorites that won’t lead to as many cavities. If your child can handle a little bitterness, try encouraging them towards dark chocolate with lower sugar content.
What Candies Should Your Child Avoid?
Sweets become a problem when they linger for too long— sticky, gummy, or hard candies can be an issue. The latter can also potentially break your child’s teeth when they bite down, making them even more dangerous.
Finally, sour candies tend to be awful from a dental standpoint. They’re usually coated in citric acid, which can lead to tooth decay. Add to that that they’re usually either gummy or hard, and sour candies become some of the most dangerous for your child’s teeth.
At the end of the day, just about all these candies are fine in moderation. The most important things are to have your child take care of their mouth and to not eat too much. Drinking plenty of water can wash down the sugar, and brushing their teeth 30 minutes after they eat will prevent bacteria buildup. November is also the perfect time for a routine cleaning, so consider that as an option to keep your child’s mouth healthy. With these tips, you can have a great Halloween for your family and their teeth.
About our Practice
Elevate Dental is here to offer you the highest quality dental services. Our qualified team led by our dentists, Dr. Mike and Dr. Kristen, has the experience necessary to care for people of all ages. We use cutting-edge technology in our prevention and detection services to make sure to catch any issues you might have before they worsen. If you have any questions about your child’s dental health, we can be reached via our website, or by phone at (802) 658-4873.