Halloween is an exciting time for your children because of the many opportunities to receive candy. But eating so much sugar can mean a trip to your kids' dentist after the holiday. You don’t need to cut out candy completely to protect their oral health—just keep an eye out for some of the most harmful ones listed below.

Which Candies to Avoid During Halloween

1. Hard Candy

Hard candies take a while to melt, during which time their sugars completely coat your child’s mouth. This long exposure makes teeth more likely to develop cavities. Also, when your child tries to bite down on hard candies, their teeth might chip or crack, an issue that usually requires an emergency visit to a kids’ dentist. 

2. Sticky Candy

Remnants of sticky candies adhere to teeth and feed oral bacteria. Even after brushing, your child might miss some candy residue left in the deep grooves of teeth. If your child has fillings or braces, sticky sweets can even pull these fixtures out of place.

3. Sour Candy

Sour candy is highly acidic, which can weaken the enamel of teeth and make them more vulnerable to decay. If your child indulges in a sour candy, have them drink water afterward to rinse away the acid. They also shouldn’t brush their teeth until at least half an hour later—doing so sooner will rub the acid in and potentially scrape at their softened enamel.

Keep your children’s teeth safe this Halloween with preventative care from Pediatric Dentistry Kahala in Honolulu, HI. Dr. Allen K. Hirai has over 24 years of experience caring for kids of all ages at the welcoming office. Visit their website to learn more about their dental services, or call (808) 737-0076 to make an appointment with the kids’ dentist.