“Trick or Treat. Smell my feet. Give me something good to eat.”

Every child wants treats on Halloween! And parents secretly hope their kids don’t notice the Snicker’s Bars and Butterfingers are missing from the trick-or-treat bags! Dr. Rick Dentistry in north Scottsdale exposes the best and worst Halloween candy and how you can protect your kids (and yourself) from the harmful effects of too much sugar in your mouth.

What’s your Favorite Halloween Candy?

Apparently, adults and children have vastly different favorites. In a 2017 poll by Jet.com, top adult favorites were chocolates, with Hershey’s Kisses and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups the leaders. But kids go mostly for fruity candy. Here are the top eight candies your trick-or-treaters want to find in their goodie bags this year:

1. Smarties
2. Starburst
3. Twix
4. Nerds
5. Skittles
6. Sour Patch Kids
7. M&Ms
8. Laffy Taffy

The Best and Worst Halloween Candy for Your Teeth

Best

Chocolate – washes off teeth faster

Candy bars with nuts – nuts help break up stickiness

Powdery candy like Pixy Stix – powder dissolves quickly

Gum sweetened with Xylitol – stimulates saliva to help clean teeth

Worst (and some of the kids’ favorites!):

Sticky, chewy, gummy candy – stay in teeth longer, hard to get out

Sour candy – excess acid erodes tooth enamel

Hard candy – can break teeth, take longer to dissolve and sugar sits longer

Popcorn balls – stick between teeth

Just How Bad is Candy for Teeth?

It really depends on the type of candy and how you take care of your teeth after eating it. The problem is when sugar is allowed to sit in your teeth for extended periods of time, it can lead to enamel erosion and tooth decay. Dr. Rick Dentistry suggests Scottsdale trick-or-treaters follow these tips to enjoy candy and avoid cavities:

1. Eat candy in one sitting each day to limit the time sugar sits in your mouth.
2. Rinse your mouth with water after eating candy.
3. Wait 30 minutes, then brush your teeth.

Spot Problems Early with Regular Checkups at Dr. Rick Dentistry

Enjoy your frighteningly delicious candy! We’ll help you avoid a scary mouth and monster breath when you make a habit of visiting our north Scottsdale dentist twice a year. Have a spook-tacular Halloween!