Sugar is no friend to the body, including the teeth and gums. The sweet stuff works with mouth bacteria to form decay-causing plaque and acid that result in mouthfuls of cavities the next time your family visits the dentist. Halloween isn’t a wonderful holiday in regard to dental health; however, some treats are worse for children’s teeth than others. Review some of the best and worst options to prepare for the spooky holiday this year.

5 Candy Options to Be Aware of This Halloween

1. Sticky Candy

Gummy and sticky candies do nothing for oral health. Their constitution makes them stick to teeth and stay there to increase the risk of cavities. Caramel and taffy candies are especially bad because they adhere to tooth grooves and stay put.

2. Milk Chocolate

As long as milk chocolate does not contain caramel or other gooey additives, it is one of the best Halloween candies for oral health. Milk chocolate by itself rinses easily from the mouth with saliva and water to mitigate cavity risks. Dark chocolate is even better because it contains helpful antioxidants in addition to rinsing clean from teeth and gums.

3. Hard Candy

Like sticky varieties, hard candy attaches itself to teeth when bitten. Even if your children suck on hard candies, such as lollipops, they are doing themselves a disservice because the candy has plenty of time to coat teeth and gums. There’s also the possibility of children breaking their teeth on exceptionally hard pieces.

4. Sugar-Free Gum

Sugar-free gum contains artificial sweeteners that mouth bacteria has no interest in. It also leaves no residue behind. And while sugar-free gum and candies should not be consumed regularly, dentists note it is okay to make an exception on Halloween.

5. Popcorn Balls

Popcorn balls harm oral health in several ways. In addition to using caramel or other sticky candy to hold them together, the kernels in these sweet treats get stuck between teeth to accelerate decay. Their hardness also makes them harmful. 

Schedule post-Halloween dentist appointments for your children at Naas Family Dentistry to keep their teeth and gums healthy. Dr. J. Matthew Naas D.M.D. offers outstanding dental care services to residents throughout Northern Kentucky, including cosmetic dentistry and tooth extractions. The family dentist and his caring staff use only the latest technologies to serve their patients, such as the Zila-ViziLite® oral cancer screening tool. Call (859) 363-9200 today to make an appointment or visit the dentist online for more information.