Happy Halloween! With the spookiest day of the year right around the corner, chances are you’re already planning your trick-or-treat route, putting the final touches on your costume, and maybe even picking out the spooky sweets to hand out to your neighbors. But before you hit the creepy candy aisle (or let your little one dig into their Halloween haul) find out which terrifying treats your dentist recommends avoiding for better oral health, along with a few options that are safer for your smile.
Tricks & Treats
Whether you’re doing the shopping for the scary sweets this season, you’ve got trick-or-treaters at home, or you’ll be hitting the Halloween party scene, it’s important to know which frightening foods should be avoided at all costs. Here are a few of the worst offenders:
- Sour candies or those that have high concentrations of citric acid, which can cause tooth sensitivity and enamel wear.
- Hard candies such as Jolly Ranchers, lollipops, and Blow Pops, all of which coat the teeth in sugar for prolonged times and can chip or crack teeth or dental work when crunched.
- Sugar-sweetened bubblegum or chewing gum.
- Caramels, taffy, or gummies, which can stick to the teeth and cover them in sugar. They can also loosen dental work and get stuck in braces and other oral appliances.
Spooky Yet Safer
While it may be a downer to say no to some of your favorite sweets, the good news is that there are still plenty of safe, tasty treats to satisfy your sweet tooth this season, such as:
- Snack-sized packages of popcorn balls, veggie straws, or pretzels.
- Chocolate (can contain nuts, peanut butter, crispy rice, etc.).
- Sugarless gum.
- Any sweets that contain Xylitol instead of sugar.
Creepy Candy-Free Alternatives
Another alternative to consider is going completely candy free. While yes, little ones clamor for fun-sized chocolate bars and other spooky sweets, by handing out small party favors you can help protect their teeth and even lower the risk of allergic reactions in your community. Some frightfully fun options include:
- Halloween themed erasers, pencils, or crayons.
- Stickers, temporary tattoos, or rubber stamps.
- Halloween themed squishy toys.
- Rubber balls, parachute men, or bubbles.
- Glow sticks.
- Rubber bracelets or rings.
- Trading or game cards.
- Whistles, kazoos, or noisemakers.
- Slide puzzles, plastic stencils, etc.
How to Handle the Halloween Haul
Surviving trick-or-treating is one thing. However, sometimes once the holiday itself is over, the aftermath can be even harder. Often, children are left with a bounty of delicious treats- and parents aren’t quite sure how to handle it. The important thing to remember is that while your little one will likely want to eat everything at once, it is important to set some firm boundaries before things get out of hand. Aim to allow them one piece of candy a day – preferably right after dinner. This way, their mouths will already have plenty of saliva to keep the sugar at a minimum on their teeth, and even if not, it won’t be long until it’s time for their evening oral hygiene routine anyway. Waiting until after a meal also ensures there’s not a whole lot of room left for them to ask for seconds! However, no matter what time you decide to allow them their candy, be sure they brush and floss their teeth when they’re finished!
So, this Halloween, don’t let spooky sweets and terrifying treats give you and your family a scary smile – with these trick-or-treating tips, you can still enjoy your creepy candy without looking like a jack-o-lantern!
About Dr. Rosenbaum
Dr. Robert Rosenbaum earned his undergraduate degree at UC Berkeley and UC Davis and his dental degree from the Georgetown University School of Dentistry. He is an active member of the American Dental Association and California Dental Association, and he’s been proudly protecting smiles in Modesto for over 40 years! To schedule an appointment for you or your family for your checkup and cleaning, visit our website or call us today at 350-200-0643.