Best and Worst Halloween Treats for Your Teeth

Every year on Halloween, millions of kids (and more than a few candy-loving adults) hit the streets in search of free treats, taking part in a tradition that’s as much fun for the treat-givers as it is for the treat-takers. It’s probably safe to say that most people enjoy Halloween, even if they don’t directly participate in its festivities. The one possible exception: your dentist.

Actually, dentists and dental hygienists enjoy Halloween as much as anyone else. But as oral health specialists, they’ve also seen firsthand the damage done by delicious, sugary treats. 

While no one wants you to give up trick-or-treating, Board-Certified Dentist Jason Ray, DDS, located in Santa Monica, California, wants you to avoid dental problems. Here, he offers some tips to help trick-or-treaters satisfy their sweet tooth and protect their actual teeth.

How sweet treats can damage your teeth

Bacteria that naturally live in your mouth love sweets just as much as you do. When you eat sugary foods, those bacteria have the food they need to multiply rapidly — a process that produces enamel-destroying acids. 

A lot of bacteria are found in plaque, a sticky film that adheres to your teeth. That means that when acids are produced, they go right to work on your enamel, weakening it and sometimes making holes right through it. The next thing you know, you have a full-blown cavity.

Avoiding sugary treats is one way to reduce your risk of cavities — but it’s also a great way to ruin Halloween. Instead, you can limit your cavity risk by knowing which treats pose the most danger to your teeth and opting for better options.

Not just sugars

Cavities are just one potential “trick” to watch out for this Halloween. Hard candies and really sticky treats, like caramel-filled goodies, also pose possible problems.

Biting on hard candies, such as lollipops, puts a lot of excess strain on your teeth, increasing the risk of chipping, cracking, or fractures. 

Really sticky treats can literally suck out restorations like fillings and crowns, and they can get stuck in orthodontia and bridges. Plus, sticky treats cling to your tooth surfaces, increasing the risk of decay.

The best treats — and worst tricks — for your teeth

Based on those risks, here’s the short list of what to indulge in and what to avoid this Halloween.

Best treats

Obviously, the best treats are those that expose your teeth to the fewest risks. That includes:

• Sugar-free gum
• Sugar-free candies
• Chocolate candies (yes!)

The benefits of sugar-free options are obvious, but the American Dental Association says chocolate is also acceptable, as it tends to wash off tooth surfaces fairly easily. 

Worst tricks

Hard candies aren’t the only treats to avoid. You should also limit:

• Candy apples
• Popcorn balls (kernels can get trapped under your gums)
• Anything with caramel (including chocolate candies with caramel fillings)
• Hard nuts or nut-filled candies
• Sour candies, including powders
• Gummies

Of course, the best way to minimize the damage from any type of treat is to brush and floss thoroughly after indulging. And if you end up with a toothache afterward, please call us right away so we can schedule an emergency dental visit for you.

Don’t ignore tooth pain

Tooth pain can be scary — maybe even scarier than Halloween. However, today, many treatments can quickly eliminate pain and ensure your smile stays healthy. 

If you experience tooth pain, don’t ignore it. Instead, schedule a visit with Dr. Ray. Call us or request an appointment through our website today.