Protect Your Familys Smiles During Spooky Season!

Halloween will be here before you know it, and your family will have delicious confections in buckets! You might as well call it candy season because of the number of treats offered at every event during this time of year. Everyone is in the mood to celebrate the changing season and indulge in their favorite spooky treats like candy corn, caramel apples, taffy, and more!

With some careful planning, you can help your family enjoy traditional ghoulish goodies without permanently damaging their teeth. Unfortunately, consuming a lot of candy often leads to cavities because sugar creates an environment in your mouth that is conducive to cavity formation, thanks to oral bacteria.

While some bacteria in the mouth are beneficial and promote a healthy oral ecosystem, others are harmful. These bad bacteria thrive when you eat sugar and release damaging acids that weaken tooth enamel, leading to cavities.

Worst Candies for Teeth

While no candy is particularly good for you, some are definitely worse for your teeth. Avoid hard or sticky candies as they can break down tooth enamel and linger in the mouth, promoting decay:

• Taffy
• Hard-to-chew, sticky candy
• Jawbreakers
• Gummy candies
• Caramels and caramel apples
• Sour candies (extra acidic)

These sweets easily get trapped between teeth, where saliva can’t naturally clear them. That’s why daily flossing, especially after indulging in treats, is essential. Thankfully, there are smarter ways to help protect your child’s teeth during Halloween!

Protecting Your Child's Teeth

• Go through your child's candy with them, remove the worst offenders (see list above), and donate them to places like fire departments, homeless shelters, hospitals, or senior centers. This teaches your child the joy of giving and protects their smile.
• Don’t allow your child to graze on candy throughout the day. Designate a specific time for treats, and limit the quantity—about three pieces a day is reasonable.
• Avoid giving candy as a snack. Opt for teeth-friendly snacks like fruits and cheese, saving candy for later in moderation.
• Choose soft candies that melt quickly. The less time sugar lingers on the teeth, the better.
• Reinforce brushing at least twice a day and flossing once daily—especially before bed to clear away sugary residue.
• Wait 30 minutes after eating acidic foods before brushing. This helps avoid enamel erosion from brushing too soon.
• Consider dental sealants for your child’s molars at their next appointment to protect those hard-to-clean surfaces.
• Keep water on hand for your child to rinse their mouth after eating sweets. Even rinsing with water can help wash away sugars before brushing.
• Encourage having candy with meals rather than snacking throughout the day. Chewing during meals boosts saliva production, which helps neutralize harmful acids.
• Consider handing out non-candy Halloween treats like plastic spider rings, mini Play-Doh, stickers, or glow sticks instead of sugary snacks.
• If your child is due for a dental exam and cleaning, fall is a great time to schedule it and ensure their smile is in top shape for the rest of the holiday season.

Festive Family Halloween Fun

We hope these tooth-friendly tips help you and your child enjoy frightful festivities while still taking great care of their fangs! Halloween marks the beginning of a fun-filled holiday season. From dressing up in costumes and carving pumpkins to decorating with skeletons, ghosts, bats, and witches' hats, there's something for everyone to enjoy. Have a safe and smile-friendly Halloween!