The Best and Worst Halloween Candy for Teeth

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Sugar and oral health aren’t exactly on the best of terms, so it’s understandable if you’re wondering what Halloween will do to your child’s teeth.

Check out this short blog post to learn about the best and worst Halloween treats and how to protect your child’s smile.

Halloween Candy and How It Affects Oral Health

Some of the worst Halloween candy your kids could eat are:

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• Sticky: Treats like caramel can stick to the teeth and be very difficult to remove during brushing. This means your child’s teeth get exposed to the sugars for longer, increasing their risk for cavities even more.

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• Sour: Apart from sugar, sour candy is also highly acidic, which can weaken the tooth enamel.

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• Hard: These are almost always pure sugar, and kids often try to break them down with their teeth, using too much pressure.

If you’re looking for tooth-friendly sweets, then you can opt for sugar-free candy, which often also tastes the same as the regular kind, or dried fruit without added sugar. Dark chocolate is also a great choice, especially thanks to its high cocoa concentration, but kids typically don’t like it because it’s bitter.

How to Take Care of Your Kid's Teeth During Halloween

You can let your kids enjoy even the "bad" Halloween candy for one day without it meaning more cavities in the future. Still, these simple tips may help reduce the risks even further:

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• Talk to your child about pacing themselves with the treats, both for their oral health and their tummy’s sake

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• Have them chew some sugar-free gum after eating candy to encourage saliva production and help flush away some of the sugar

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• Pay extra attention to their brushing and flossing routine that night, and make sure they thoroughly clean their teeth

Preventative Tips for a Happy and Healthy Smile

Monitoring your child’s sugar intake is crucial for any day of the year, not just Halloween. Your child’s risk for cavities increases if they routinely eat the "worst" candy and don’t clean their teeth.

Here are some other tips that can help you reduce the child’s risk for dental health issues:

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• Make sure the child brushes their teeth at least twice a day and flosses daily

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• Add more fresh fruits and vegetables to their diet to promote saliva production

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• Give them a tall glass of water to drink after every meal to cleanse their mouth

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• Have them chew some sugar-free gum after meals

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• Take them to the dentist every six months for a routine dental cleaning and check-up

How Chula Vista Pediatric Dentistry Can Help

If you need more support to help your child develop a healthy and happy smile, let Dr. Rene lend a hand with preventive pediatric treatments.

You can schedule your visit to Chula Vista Pediatric Dentistry online or call us at (619) 482-1210 to learn more about our services.