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The Halloween Candy Survival Guide for Parents

| cavity, children, dental health, family

As your little goblins and ghosts gather their Halloween goodies this year, it’s important to keep in mind how the sugar in those treats can play some unwanted tricks on your teeth if you’re not careful.

Here’s why: When the bacteria in your mouth eat the sugar and leftover food in your mouth, a weak acid is produced. That acid is what can contribute to cavities.

To help your kids enjoy the treats without any nasty tricks from cavities, here is a list from the American Dental Association on certain candies and their impact on your teeth:

Chocolate
Chocolate is probably your best bet, which is good because it’s also one of the most popular kinds of candy handed out on Halloween. Chocolate is one of the better candies because it washes off your teeth easier than other types of candy, and dark chocolate also has less sugar than milk chocolate.

Sticky and Gummy Candies
Sticky is tricky! These are some of the worst candies for your teeth. This candy is harder to remove and may stay longer on your teeth, which gives that cavity-causing bacteria more time to do its dirty work.

Hard Candy
Hard candies can be hazardous as well on Halloween. They can actually break your teeth if you’re not careful. Not to mention that you also tend to keep these kinds of candies in your mouth for longer periods of time so the sugar is getting in your saliva and washing over your teeth. Not a good combination!

Sour Candy
You might want to pass on things that make you pucker – especially if they are sticky and coated in sugar. Sour candy can be very acidic and that acidity can weaken and damage the hard, outer shell of your teeth, making your teeth more vulnerable to cavities.

Popcorn Balls
These can be a nightmare on any street! They are sticky, sugary and the kernels can get stuck in between your teeth and since they are hard, can cause damage to teeth.

So be watchful of the treats you let your children enjoy this Halloween and if you do encounter any scary mouth moments, call your good friends at Longmeadow Family Dental Care.