This post from 2021 deserves a re-post! Happy Halloween!
Let’s make it less spooky by knowing which candy and treats can be indulged in with relatively low effort and which you might want to be a little more careful about. For yourselves and your small goblins!
Being more careful can mean things like counteracting the more acidic or sticky candies by drinking some water or chewing some sugarless gum afterwards. Timing ‘worse’ treats during the day to have a bit less impact or eating them less frequently.
We’re not aiming for 100% here. These treats can be enjoyed AND teeth kept healthy and cavity-free, yay!
Please see the below graphic. We have typed out the info here, for those of you who may prefer. A big shout out to Invisalign for the fantastic info and graphic!
The best and worst Halloween candy for your teeth
Worst: Taffy and candies with caramel, coconut or nuts are the worst because they stick to the grooves of your teeth. The longer food sticks to teeth, the longer bacteria can feed on it – which could produce cavity-causing acid.
Second worst: Hard candy like lollipops or jawbreakers, are almost as bad. Although they do not stick to your mouth, they take a long time to dissolve. The longer food stays in your mouth, the more acidic your mouth becomes.
Pretty bad: Sour candy is also bad for your teeth because it has a higher acidic content, which can break down tooth enamel.
Not so bad: Chocolate, with no sticky fillings will generally not stick to your teeth and therefore is a much better option if you’re craving something sweet.
Best: Sugar-free gum may be the best treat this Halloween season because it leaves no sticky residue, and it is sweetened with xylitos – a natural sugar the bacteria is unable to form plaque on.
About Us
We treat the whole family and are very experienced, patient and successful with the little ghosts and goblins of your family, starting at 6 months old.
See our YouTube videos of our dentists and staff working with toddlers, you will honestly be amazed. Toddler sitting on parents lap, staff singing to distract them.
You’ll love it!
Visit us at Kits Family Dental in Kitsilano, Vancouver. We’d love to see you.
