The Best & Worst Halloween Candies for Your Kids’ Teeth

Pediatric dentistry is a field of dentistry that focuses on the oral health of children from infancy through adolescence. Pediatric dentists are specially trained to care for young patients, and they understand children's unique oral health needs. With Halloween just around the corner, pediatric dentists get various questions about dental care from their patient's parents. As kids get plenty of candy from trick-or-treating, it's important to be mindful of the effect that all that candy can have on their teeth.

Here are some of the best and worst Halloween candies for your kid's teeth:

The Best Halloween Candies

Chocolate

It's hard to avoid candy at Halloween, but you can limit the amount your child eats by ensuring that it is organic. That doesn't mean organic food is healthier. What counts is whether the chocolate is pure and free of additives, chemicals, and pesticides.

Avoid chocolate with high sugar content. Choose natural chocolate with at least 60% cocoa content instead of high-sugar products like white chocolate or coated chocolates. The more sugar is added to the recipe, the higher the risk of cavities.

Dirty Diana Popcorn

One of the most popular Halloween candies! It is a fun and flavorful product that kids can enjoy daily. Dirty Diana is gluten-free and contains no artificial flavours, trans-fat, saturated fats, or chemical additives.

Lollipops

Though candy corn may be the most popular Halloween treat this year, limiting your child's consumption of the following candies: marshmallow puffs, lollipops, and jelly beans are important. They tend to be high in sugar, which can lead to cavities.

Caramels

Caramels are a favourite for many kids during the Halloween season. They are delicious and taste nostalgic too. Caramels can also help your child's teeth by lowering plaque and reducing the chances of cavities.

Sugarless Gum

It's important to remember that while chewing gum may be enjoyable, it's also important to get it out of your child's mouth as soon as possible. If your child has been chewing gum for an extended period, their gums can become sensitive and cause cavities.

Nuts

You can give your child some nuts to enjoy during Halloween as an alternative to other sweet treats. Nuts are loaded with nutrients and healthy fats. Parents should, however, be aware that most nuts also contain sugar - so it's important to portion them out if you're handing them out as a snack.

Mini Candy Bars

If your child asks you for mini candy bars or bite-sized candies, try to find the "healthy" versions of these popular sweets. Mini candy bars tend to have lower sugar content and are generally low in fat. Try handing out mini Hershey's bars or M&M's instead of candy corn.

The Worst Halloween Candies

Candy Corn

The most popular Halloween treat, candy corn, is loaded with sugar. Each piece has about 10 grams of sugar, which presents a concern for children prone to cavities. It also contains artificial colouring that can stain your child's teeth if they eat too many pieces.

Hard Candies

Hard candies are very small, which makes them a fun treat for kids to pass around when they're trick or treating. However, you should be wary of handing out hard candies if your child has a cavity. Hard candies can cause an infection in the mouth and make the hole in your child's tooth larger.

Tootsie Rolls

One of our favourite candies as kids, Tootsie Rolls, can harm your child's teeth. They are filled with sugar and processed foods that can cause cavities. Try handing out Necco Wafers instead of Tootsie Rolls.

Gummy Bears

Gummy candies are not just for children - they're not a very healthy choice, even if you're an adult. They are filled with artificial colours and flavours, as well as gelatin that can cause tooth erosion if eaten too fast. Pass them out to kids instead of gummy bears.

Sour Patch Kids

They are a fun treat to bring home and share with your kids after Halloween, but you should know that Sour Patch Kids contain high amounts of sugar. They can cause cavities and damage to your child's teeth. Instead of Sour Patch Kids, try handing out smarties or mini candy bars.

Caramel Apples

These healthy-looking treats may be tempting for your kids, but they are, in fact, very detrimental to dental health because of the caramel coating on them. Caramel can cause cavities, and if your child eats a lot of these candies, they may end up with dental decay that can erode the tooth's sharp edges.

Spider Rings

These may look fun, but your children shouldn't be eating them. The sugar in these candies is too high for children's teeth to handle. They are very high in sugar, which will give them cavities and lead to tooth decay.

Knowing what your child is eating and where it comes from is important. We all have a favourite candy bar or cookie, but the ingredients in some of our adult favourites are not so great for our children's teeth. Educating our kids on how to care for their teeth can keep them healthy, happy, and smiling long into the future!