Halloween is a fun and festive time of year, but it’s also a time when your child’s candy consumption will go up quite a bit. It’s not practical to tell your kids that they can’t have any candy at all, but excessive sugar can lead to cavities and a higher risk of gum disease in kids.

Wondering what candy your child should eat during Halloween, and what should be avoided? There are some types of candy that are definitely better for the teeth than others. Read on to get all the information you need from Miles of Little Smiles.

The Best Types Of Halloween Candy For Your Child’s Teeth

Wondering what types of candy your child should eat this Halloween? Here are a few great options. 

• Sugar-free gum – Sugar-free gum is delicious and is actually good for the teeth, particularly if your child chews gum after eating some other types of candy. It helps stimulate saliva production and rinses away sugar from other treats. It gets an “A+” grade for tooth health!
• Chocolate and dark chocolate bars – Chocolate candies with few other ingredients, like M&Ms, Hershey’s bars, and other chocolates are a good choice for Halloween. Chocolate quickly is rinsed out of the mouth by saliva and is not very sticky on its own, so it isn’t a huge contributor to cavities.
• Quick-dissolving candies like Smarties – Smarties and other similar candies that quickly dissolve in the mouth are a good option, too, since they don’t leave sticky or gummy residue. 

The Worst Halloween Candy For Your Child’s Teeth

The worst types of Halloween candy for your child’s teeth all have some similarities. They’re sticky, gummy, or stick around in your child’s mouth releasing sugar for a long period of time, which can result in tooth decay. 

• Sticky candies & candy bar ingredients – Candies like taffy and ingredients like caramel and nougat tend to be very sticky. They get stuck in the grooves and gaps between your child’s teeth, which stimulates the production of cavity-causing bacteria.
• Hard candies & suckers – Suckers like Blow Pops and Dum Dums and hard candies like Jolly Ranchers take a long time to eat, and release a lot of sugar into your child’s mouth. They’re also very crunchy and could crack or damage the teeth when bitten.
• Gummy candies – Gummy candies like Sour Patch Kids, gummy worms/bears, and Swedish Fish are very sticky and usually quite acidic, so they are a major contributor to cavities.

Make Sure To Use Moderation During Halloween To Avoid Cavities! 

Above all else, whenever your child has a few candy bars or sweet treats during Halloween, they should rinse their mouth or brush and floss. As long as your child maintains good oral hygiene habits during this time, their risk of cavities will remain low.

For more information or to schedule a checkup for your child and make sure they’re cavity-free, contact Miles of Little Smiles today. You can give us a call at (914) 949-6655 or contact us online to get a consultation in Westchester, NY with Dr. Mila Belgrade and Dr. Dikla Chazbani .