Little ghosts and goblins will trick-or-treat to collect as much candy as they can this Halloween, but it is not just kids who will enjoy the treats. Nearly 80-percent of parents admit they eat their children’s Halloween candy, according to the Delta Dental Children’s Oral Health Survey.1 But some candies have the potential to do more damage to teeth than others.
“Parents should encourage their children to choose candy that will not stick to teeth, such as powdery candy or plain chocolate bars. These types of candy dissolve quickly and do not stick to teeth as much as chewy candy. When sugar remains on teeth for extended periods, bacteria feeds on it and produces cavity-causing acid,” said Michel Couret, DDS, chief dental officer at Northeast Delta Dental.
Dr. Couret says the best way to protect teeth from decay is to have candy in small portions at limited times, such as after a meal, as dessert or at regular snack times. Nearly 90-percent of parents say their kids consume Halloween candy this way.1
“It is best to avoid letting children snack on candy throughout the day,” said Dr. Couret, “and it is important that kids brush their teeth or at least rinse with water after eating sweets. Remember that high sugar diets can be detrimental to oral and overall health.”
While no sweets are good for teeth, some are less harmful than others. Below, Northeast Delta Dental rates the best and worst treats for teeth on a scale of one to five, with one being least harmful.
Sugar-free candy and gum with xylitol
Sugar-free foods do not contain sugar that can feed on bacteria in the mouth and produce decay-causing acids. Gum and candy with xylitol may actually protect teeth by reducing the acids produced by bacteria and increasing saliva to rinse away excess sugars and acids.
- Delta Dental’s survey says 44-percent of kids eat sugar-free candy at Halloween.1
Powdery candy (such as sugar straws)
Sure, powdery candy is packed with pure sugar. But powdery candy dissolves quickly and does not stick to the teeth.
Chocolate (such as candy bars)Chocolate dissolves quickly in the mouth and can be eaten easily, which decreases the amount of time sugar stays in contact with teeth. And calcium could help protect tooth enamel. However, chocolate with fillings, such as caramel and nuts, is a lot more harmful for teeth than the plain variety.
- Delta Dental’s survey says 86-percent of children eat chocolate at Halloween. 1
Hard candy (such as lollipops or mints)
Hard candy is tough on teeth because it tends to be enjoyed at a leisurely pace for an extended period of time. Plus, biting hard candy can chip or break teeth.
- Delta Dental’s survey says 50-percent of children eat hard candy at Halloween. 1
Chewy candy (such as caramels or gummies)
Chewy, sticky treats are particularly damaging because they are high in sugar, spend a prolonged amount of time stuck to teeth and are more difficult for saliva to break down.
- Delta Dental’s survey says 57-percent of children eat chewy candy at Halloween. 1
Another way to protect teeth is to give kids something other than candy. Nearly 25-percent of parents hand-out non-candy items to trick-or-treaters, such as toys, money or fruit1. For additional tips on how to help keep children’s teeth healthy during Halloween and all year long, visit the Tooth Fairy’s Halloween website at www.toothfairytrickytreats.org.
Delta Dental Plans of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, jointly do business as Northeast Delta Dental. Headquartered in Concord, N.H., with sales offices in Saco, Maine, and Burlington, Vermont, Northeast Delta Dental administers dental insurance to more than 746,000 people in these three states. To learn more about Northeast Delta Dental, visit www.nedelta.com and follow Northeast Delta Dental on Facebook and Twitter.
1Morpace Inc. conducted the 2013 Delta Dental Children’s Oral Health Survey. Interviews were conducted nationally via the Internet with 926 primary caregivers of children from birth to age 11. For results based on the total sample of national adults, the margin of error is ±3.2 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level.