How to Select Better Halloween Candy for Teeth: Best vs. Worst Candy 2022

Halloween is right around the corner, and cavities are soon to follow unless you know how to select the best candy for your dental health. The scariest part of Halloween isn’t the fake ghosts and monsters; it’s the monstrous damage to your dental health caused by consuming certain types of candy. You can reduce the risk of damage to your teeth by knowing which Halloween candy you can grab and which to moderate.

The Best and Worst Halloween Candy for Dental Health

Choosing wisely doesn’t mean you must omit your favorite candy from your 2022 Halloween celebrations. You can enjoy all your favorite Halloween candy this year, but some sweets have a more significant negative impact on your teeth if consumed in large quantities. And you might discover that your candy choices are not as bad for your teeth as you thought. The worst and best candies to select for your Halloween candy bag include the following:

Worst Candy Choices

The bacterium in your mouth thrives on sugar that remains on your teeth, tongue, and gums after eating candy. The longer the sugar from candy sticks to your teeth, the greater the feast for bacteria in your mouth. As bacteria devour the leftover sugar, it produces an acid that eats away at your teeth and causes cavities. The worst candies for your dental health are sticky, gummy, and chewy such as the following:

  • Taffy
  • Caramel
  • Gummies
  • Fruit-rollups

Bad Candy Choices

The second worst candy choice for your 2022 Halloween bag is hard candy, such as the following:

  • Jawbreakers
  • Jolly Ranchers
  • Lollipops
  • Caramel Corn
  • Candy Corn
  • Popcorn Balls

Not Great Candy Choices

Sour candies make it easier for bacteria to cause cavities. Sour candy is more acidic than other candies and often still contains plenty of sugar that bacteria love to eat. In the case of Pixi Stix, the acidity can break down the enamel layer on your teeth and changes your mouth’s PH. So enjoy sour candies in moderation, followed by brushing your teeth with fluoride toothpaste.

Better Than Most Candy Choices

It will come as a pleasant surprise to many children and adults alike that chocolate is one of the better candy choices you can make when filling your trick-or-treat bag this Halloween. That goes for chocolate candies that do not contain sticky fillings or caramel. Chocolate is a better candy choice because it does not stick to your teeth like other candies. Chocolate washes off your teeth with your natural saliva. Dark chocolate is the best candy choice because it contains less sugar than milk chocolate.

Best Candy Choices

Anything that does not contain sugar is a great candy choice for your dental health. Of course, a sugar-free Halloween doesn’t sound very fun. You don’t have to eliminate sugar from your Halloween candy if you choose wisely and care for your teeth after consuming your candy. Keep an eye open for sugar-free gum and candy with xylitol.

Following Your Candy Binge

Halloween should not be a holiday to avoid sugar. It only comes around once a year, so enjoy trying all sorts of sugary candies but end your binge by caring for your oral health. It just so happens that the day after Halloween is National Brush Day. After you enjoy your Halloween candy, floss between each tooth, brush your teeth, and rinse with a fluoridated mouthwash. And call our office to schedule a dental consultation and learn more ways to select the best Halloween candy for your dental health.