Best and Worst Halloween Treats for Your Teeth in Long Beach

October is here and that means Halloween season is in full force. With it comes all the Halloween treats we love to indulge in, and they are not just limited to one night anymore. Treats are everywhere all month long these days.

Which of these treats are good for your teeth? Which are bad? It can be hard to know what to pick with so many options. This short guide will help you pick treats that are good for your teeth while still being scrumptious.

Why Are Some Halloween Treats Bad for Your Teeth?

In a word: sugar. The bacteria that live in your mouth love to eat sugar and the more sugar you feed them, the more they multiply and the higher your chances of developing tooth decay or gum disease become. Halloween treats are packed full of sugar, making them problematic.

In addition to sugar, some treats also have other ingredients that can be bad for your teeth, such as hard nuts and sticky coatings.

What Are the Best Halloween Treats for Your Teeth?

Believe it or not, chocolate -especially plain chocolate -is the best candy for your teeth. It washes off your teeth easier than other treats, leaving less sugar behind for the bacteria to eat. Dark chocolate has less sugar than most other types of candy, so it is an even better choice.

Cookies, brownies, cupcakes, cakes, and other baked treats are better for your teeth than most forms of candy. This is provided they do not contain nuts or caramel, of course.

Sugar-free gum is another good choice. No sugar means you do not have to worry about your dental health and can indulge to your heart's content. Finally, fresh fruit is a good option, but one that may not make your little goblins happy!

What Are the Worst Halloween Treats for Your Teeth?

Sticky and gooey treats are the worst for your teeth since they stick to the teeth and leave behind a sugary residue even after you are finished eating. Brushing them off is also hard to do. This category includes things such as caramel apples, marshmallows, licorice, taffy, candy corn, and jellybeans.

Treats that include nuts are also problematic because they stick to the teeth. Popcorn balls not only stick to your teeth, but bits of them can become lodged in between your teeth and cause irritation.

Which Halloween Treats Are OK in Moderation?

Be careful about lollipops because of the amount of sugar contained in them, but one or two on Halloween is acceptable. Also, avoid sour candies. These treats are not only sweet but have extra acid in them that can cause some serious damage to your teeth.

Most other treats will be okay in moderation but do try to stick to the ones under the “best” list.

Are There Any Halloween Treats That Should Be Avoided Entirely?

Extremely hard candies should be avoided. This includes jawbreakers and the various forms of hard candy you find in stores around Long Beach this time of the year. These treats are so hard that biting down on them can break a tooth -and that is the last thing you want to do on Halloween!

Can Children with Braces Still Enjoy Halloween Treats?

Of course, they can! However, if they have traditional metal or porcelain ceramic braces, they need to stick to the usual dietary restrictions, which means nothing sticky, hard, crunch, or gooey. That rules out an awful lot of Halloween treats but it will prevent them from breaking a wire or a bracket, which would be worse!

Children who wear Invisalign® clear aligners can enjoy the same treats as children without braces. Just remind them to remove their aligners before indulging and replace them when they are finished. You might want to send their aligners case with them to parties and trick or treating so they have a place to put the aligner before they eat. This will minimize the chances of losing it.

What Is the Best Way to Enjoy Halloween Treats While Still Protecting Our Teeth?

Eat your treats -or have your children eat them -along with a healthy diet and drink plenty of water to help wash the sugar off your teeth. Wait at least 30 minutes after finishing the last treat to brush your teeth for the night. This will allow any acid to be diluted so that it will not scour your tooth enamel when you brush.

If you have children, make sure the candy is put up before they brush, or they might sneak “just one more piece” when you are not looking, and leave their teeth coated in sugar all night. That will undo all the work you put into having a dental-safe Halloween.

What Should I Do if I Have a Dental Emergency on Halloween?

First of all, do not panic! Accidents and dental emergencies happen, holidays or not.

The steps you should take depend on the nature of the emergency. If a tooth is fractured or knocked out, there is significant bleeding, or any chance of an injury to the jaw or head, go straight to an emergency dentist or your local emergency room. Those types of injuries require immediate care from medical professionals and cannot wait.

Almost all other dental problems can be dealt with the next day. Put away the Halloween treats, take an over-the-counter medication for pain or swelling if you need to, and gently clean your or your child’s teeth before bed.

Call our Long Beach office the next morning and we will get you in to be seen as soon as possible. If a cap or crown gets knocked off, keep it and bring it with you. Also, bring any dental appliances that suffer damage.

Do You Want a Better Smile?

The Dentist of Long Beach provides dental treatments for the whole family, from the youngest child to the oldest senior citizen in a modern, up-to-date atmosphere. We provide everything from preventative dentistry to cosmetic dentistry. We even provide orthodontic and periodontic care.

Call the Dentist of Long Beach at 562-373-0026 today and make your first appointment!