Ask any dentist and they’ll agree that the less sugar you consume, the better it is for your teeth. However, cutting out sweets entirely just isn’t a realistic option. Especially when it comes to one of the most popular holidays for Canadian children, Halloween.  

We can’t in good conscience ask kids to pass up a chance to go trick or treating, so instead we’ll do the next best thing – take a look at the worst (and best) Halloween treats for your child’s teeth:

The Baddest of the Bunch

Sticky Candy

When it comes to protecting teeth against the harmful effects of sugar, how long it stays in the mouth matters as much if not more than how much sugar actually gets consumed. Sticky Halloween candies like caramels, gummies or nougat tend to take longer to eat than other types of candy, giving harmful bacteria plenty of time to feed and thrive. Plus, these types of candies sneak their way on and between your kids’ teeth, making them extra hard to brush away.  

Sour Candy

You may have expected to see sticky candy on our list, but we bet you didn’t see sour sweets coming! Many sour flavours are created by adding citric acid, which can erode the protective enamel that coats teeth due to its low pH content. If you or your little ones do indulge in something sour, make sure to rinse the acid away as quickly as possible with a glass of water. Just avoid brushing for 30 minutes to prevent brushing away the enamel softened by the acid attack.

Hard Candy

Like sticky candy, hard candy tends to linger as kids take their time sucking on them, giving bacteria the chance to throw a Halloween party of their own. But if you have a child who likes to chomp on their sweets instead, they may be still in for a painful trick. Hard candies like lollipops, jawbreakers or Jolly Ranchers can easily chip, damage or even fracture a child’s (or adult’s) tooth, which can mean an immediate trip to the emergency dentist.  

While we still recommend eating as little candy as possible on any day of the year, there are a few common candy options that are less detrimental to your child’s teeth than the rest:

The Best of the Worst

Dark Chocolate

Dark chocolate (the darker the better) also has anti-inflammatory properties and polyphenols, a natural chemical that restricts bacteria growth. But dark chocolate still contains sugar, though it tends to have significantly less than its milk or white counterparts, making it overall less harmful to teeth. Plus, as it’s so quick to melt, it’s easy to rinse or brush away after your kid is done snacking.  

Sugar-free Gum

Looks like we saved the best for last! Contrary to the other candies we’ve discussed, chewing sugar-free gum can actually help protect your teeth by promoting saliva production. And, as with dark chocolate, less sugar means less bacteria, which means a happier, healthier smile.  

But, at the end of the day, no candy can really be considered good for your or your child's teeth. If your kids love to go crazy on the Halloween treats, make extra sure to brush and floss before bed, have them drink lots of water between bites and make sure they visit their dentist every six months (just click the orange “Book Online” button) to keep those spooky smiles bright and healthy.  

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