Halloween Candy Options for Children’s Teeth

This time of year many people ask me about Halloween candy.  I don’t think there is any question that eating large amounts of sugary treats is not good for any one at any age. There are many health concerns  about the calories or sugars in candy that are linked to obesity and diabetes.  As for as the teeth, the goal is to reduce the acids that dissolves  enamel causing tooth decay.  The acids could come from drinks or sour candies themselves.  The acids could also come from plaque (germs that attach to the teeth) that thrives on sugars and produces acid as a waste product.  If you can reduce the amount of plaque (by brushing and flossing) or if you can reduce the growth of plaque (by not providing extra nutrients like sugar), then the acidic product of the plaque can be minimized.

Here are some strategies that may reduce the amount  and effects  that  the sugar in candy has on the teeth.  

Some people advocate a non-traditional Halloween event that deemphasizes the candy aspect of the holiday.  Certainly the quest and collection of the treats are a draw for the kids.  A healthy alternative would be to replace the  candy  with stickers or toys or healthy alternatives to candy.  This could be done  at an organized Halloween event or party.  However, If the children are not adequately prepared for a non-candy event their expectations based on previous years experiences may not be met.

Another idea is to fuel up before hand with a healthy, fun dinner that reduces the hunger for all of the candy on Halloween night.  To fill up on healthier foods at dinner prior to the trick-or-treating  would reduce the desire to consume candy as it is collected.  With proper planning the dinner could become an event  that could potentially diminish the emphasis on the quest and desire for candy later that night.

Preparing the child for an inventory of the trick-or-treat candies at the end of the evening will allow the parent to reduce some of the quantity of candies available following the holiday.  Those candies that are not thought to be safe would be removed.  Additionally those candies that the child has little interest in could also be removed without too much resistance.  All of this would be done with the preparation of how much of the candy could be consumed that night. 

If further selective reduction of the candies is possible, reducing the sticky sweets would be the next option. Sticky sweets such as gummy candies, taffy, and even dried fruit can be difficult for children and adults to resist, and even more difficult to remove from teeth. They get stuck in the crevices between teeth, making it difficult for saliva or a brush to wash them away.

As far as the teeth go, it is better to eat the candy at controlled times  in the days following  Halloween  so that the teeth can be cleaned after the candy is eaten.  Small amounts of candy eaten all day long with one cleaning at the end of the day  would be worse on the teeth than eating the same total amount at one time with one thorough cleaning afterwards.

Having a candy swap is another option that reduces the cumulative effects of the sweets.  The parent could trade the regular candy for something like sugarless candy, sugarless gum , other favorite foods, or even toys that the child likes.  If there is a healthier non-candy treat that the child enjoys,  the bulk of candy would be reduced and the child would receive a equally  enticing  food or toy.  The other advantage is that the parent can choose to use healthier foods that are not available in prepackaged  bite-sized quantities.

Finally, the care of the teeth is the same regardless of the holiday.  To reduce the effects of candy on the teeth a person needs to reduce the plaque on the teeth and the residual sugar and acids that may be present in the mouth.   Many sour candies and drinks are slightly acidic.  Drinking or swishing water after finishing the candy will dilute some of the residual acids  and sugars in the mouth.  Thorough  brushing with a fluoridated toothpaste and flossing especially before going to bed is the final and most important technique to reduce the effects that Halloween candy has on the teeth.

Halloween is a fun event for children and adults alike but it is only one event in the whole year.  Good daily habits and good nutrition thorough out the year make the effects of a unique event  like Halloween much less significant.