It’s that time of year again: spooky season! There’s a lot to get done and so little time left. From getting together costumes, picking a trick-or-treating route, and preparing for parties at work or with friends, it can be easy to let your little one’s oral health become an afterthought. With a holiday that’s based so heavily around sweets, being proactive is the best way to keep oral health issues at bay. Read on to learn about what kinds of Halloween candy are the worst for your little one’s smile and which ones will prevent a scary grin.
Why Is Halloween Candy Bad for Growing Grins?
So, what is it that makes Halloween candy so damaging to your child’s smile? Many popular treats contain a lot of sugar. Bacteria in the mouth feed on this sugar and then release acids that attack your child’s enamel. Enamel is the outermost layer of the tooth and protects their smile from damage. When it’s weakened, this makes their pearly whites more likely to develop cavities.
3 Types of Halloween Candy to Avoid
There are a few kinds of Halloween candy that can be particularly harmful to your little one’s oral health, including:
- Hard candy – Though hard candy is meant to melt in one’s mouth, many people chew on it. If your child does this, they may end up breaking or chipping one of their teeth. Additionally, hard candy takes a long time to dissolve. This means that your teeth will be exposed to the sugar in them for longer. This will give harmful bacteria more time to damage their smile.
- Sticky or gummy candy – Sticky candies like gummy bears latch on to the teeth, making them difficult to wash away. Much like hard candy, this gives bacteria more time to release acids and damage your child’s teeth.
- Sour candies – Sour candy contains a lot of acid, which makes smiles more susceptible to decay.
4 Healthier Halloween Candy Options
Fortunately, not all Halloween candies are bad for your child’s teeth. There are a few that are safe for them to eat, such as:
- PayDay – Packed full of high-protein peanuts, this candy bar can aid in tissue damage repair and build bone.
- Smarties – With low calories, fat, and sugar, this candy is healthier for your little one’s teeth than most other Halloween candies.
- Sugar-free gum – This chewy treat doesn’t contain sugar for bacteria to feed on. Additionally, chewing gum encourages saliva production, which helps wash away bacteria and food particles.
- Chocolate – Chocolate won’t chip your child’s teeth and is easy to wash away.
- Sugar-free candy – There are many sugarless versions of classic treats, such as peanut butter cups, hard candy, and gummies.
If your little one has been looking forward to Halloween all year long, make sure to keep the above information in mind. Knowing what Halloween candy is better for their beam will help them make it through the holiday damage-free!
About the Practice
Drs. Jason Hong and Kathy Lam are here to help patients keep their pearly whites healthy and bright. They administer a variety of treatments, such as preventive options to keep oral health issues at bay. They can also restore damaged beams and offer helpful tips to protect your teeth at home. To make an appointment or for more information, visit Dr. Jason Hong and Dr. Kathy Lam’s website or call them at (630) 789-1555 today.