The Worst Halloween Candy For Your Teeth (And A Few That Aren't So Bad)
Halloween is coming, and children across Canada are anticipating gorging themselves on candy.
Every parent knows the pitfalls of candy for their children’s teeth, but no one wants to be the scrooge of Halloween – even if your child has weak tooth enamel. The good news is, you don’t have to ban sweets from your home to help your kids keep their teeth healthy.
Some candy is better than others when it come to oral health. So as long as your can restrict, or trade out, the worst candy in favour of the ‘better’ candy, you can help your child stay healthy, while still allowing them to have fun.
To help you choose the best candy for your kids (and you) we’re going list the worst candies for your teeth, and which ones you should substitute in.
Halloween candy that causes cavities
Taffy and caramel – Anyone who’s eaten caramels and taffy can tell you these candies get stuck in every nook and cranny of your teeth. Having caramel jammed in between every tooth in your mouth is more than annoying – it’s creating a cavity factory in your mouth.That sugar stuck in your teeth creates the perfect environment for cavity-causing bacteria to form and thrive, making cavities more likely.
Though one or two is not going to cause an immediate cavity for your child, keep your eye out for bags full of these sticky treats and try to trade out as many as possible.
*Pro tip – taffy and caramel are bad enough, but add nuts of coconut to the mix and the effect on your teeth is even worse.
Hard candies – From lollipops to jawbreakers, hard candies are hard on your teeth for much the same reason as caramel and toffee – it stays in your mouth for longer. Because it takes time for these candies to dissolve, hard candy gives cavity-causing bacteria more time to do their work.
*Pro tip – Hard candies can also break teeth, so be especially careful if your young one is trying to crunch through a jawbreaker in one bite.
Sour candy – Anything that makes your lips pucker is highly acidic. So while it may dissolve quick and leave little residue, it can change the pH in your mouth, creating an acidic environment that will eat away at tooth enamel.
*Pro tip – Chewing gum sweetened with xylitol after eating acidic foods encourages the production of saliva, which will help even out the pH of your mouth.
The best candy to eat on Halloween
Chocolate – Yes, once again chocolate comes to the rescue. As long as your chocolate isn’t filled with sticky fillings, it won’t stick to teeth, or change the pH of your mouth. That’s good news for you tooth enamel. Now, chocolate, just like any sugar-filled candy, still introduces sugar, which cavity-causing bacteria feeds on, so moderation is still key here.
Sugar-less gum – You probably saw this coming, but Xylitol-sweetened gum is the only ‘candy’ that may actually be good for your teeth. It offers nothing for those pesky bacteria to feed on, and stimulates saliva production, which helps restore the pH of your mouth and dissolve all that pesky sugar.
Take twice the care this a Halloween
While you may be able to switch out the worst candies from your child’s pillowcase o’ candy, it’s incredibly important to make sure your child is taking the time to properly brush their teeth.
That means:
A full 2 minute brush
Twice a day – before bed and when you wake up
Now that you’re equipped for Halloween, go out and enjoy trick or treating with your goblins and ghouls.