It’s pretty common to get scared of all the sticky, sugary treats your children are bound to receive and eat when a holiday like Halloween comes in. But it’s also vital to remember that Halloween for kids is all about dressing up and going around the neighborhood for treats. We’re pretty certain your pediatric dentist in Murray or Provo, Utah will agree with this, provided that your children practice proper dental hygiene. Here are some of the worst Halloween treats that are not good for your children’s teeth.
Starburst
Just nine pieces of Starbursts (soft, chewy candies) contain approximately 22g of sugar. They contain sugar and corn syrup, which is more sugar. Excessive consumption of starbursts could compromise your child’s dental health. The sugar content modifies your mouth’s natural pH level, which could result in the teeth’s enamel to break down and feed bacteria inside the mouth, which in turn could cause cavities.
The Jawbreaker
Although the sugar content in jawbreakers is only around 14g for each serving, the length of time you need to consume one Jawbreaker means that you will be exposing your teeth to sugar for a long time. This can cause more cavities and a higher chance of your teeth’s enamel eroding or breaking down.
Tootsie Roll
This extra sticky candy is extremely sticky that it could inadvertently dislodge a dental crown or cap. Tootsie rolls also get stuck in the teeth’s crannies and nooks, prolonging sugar exposure inside the mouth and increasing your risk of developing cavities.
Gummy Worms or Bears
A standard serving of 20 gummy worms or bears could contain around 30g of sugar; that’s roughly about 7 to 8 teaspoons of sugar that could stick to your teeth. So while gummy bears and worms might be super cute and don’t look sugary, they are.
Blow Pops
The issue with blow pops is the issue with jawbreakers and any lollipop you put inside your mouth—the amount of time it stays inside your mouth. For example, let’s say that it would take you about 10 minutes or so to finish the lollipop, that’s very different than chewing a tiny piece of candy for several minutes. Also, Blow Pops have that extra sugary lollipop coating and then gum inside, so it’s like a double whammy for your teeth.
Fortunately, you don’t necessarily have to ruin Halloween for your kids. Ordering your kids to not eat candy on Halloween is can be similar to a punishment. But you can take extra precaution when you say to your kids to drink water or rinse their mouth with plain water after eating candy. You should also tell them to wait for at least 30 minutes before they brush their teeth. The reason for this is that when you consume particularly acidic and sweet foods, the teeth’s enamel demineralizes and brushing right away could mean brushing off the enamel as well. This increases teeth sensitivity and then lead to cavities.
You can celebrate any holiday like Halloween and Christmas with your children’s favourite sweets, but you need to make sure that you will take precautions for their dental health.
