Halloween Treats that Won’t Hurt Teeth

Get our recommendations on how to enjoy Halloween without hurting your teeth.

There are many wonderful things about Halloween, but the temptation to binge on trick or treat candy for days or weeks afterwards isn’t one of them. This isn’t just a risk for kids—according to a survey from Delta Dental, almost 80 percent of parents admit to dipping into their kids’ Halloween hauls.

The good news is that you can certainly enjoy Halloween without destroying your teeth. Here are some suggestions for fun, festive Halloween treats that won’t hurt your teeth.

Candy Apples: Candy apples sometimes get a bad rap because people think the sticky outer layer of caramel is bad for teeth. The reality is, you only need to avoid candy apples if you have braces or some kind of dental work that could be pulled loose by the caramel. Otherwise, a candy apple can actually be a pretty good choice of Halloween treat—as long as you eat the whole apple. The firm crunchy flesh of the apple will help clean the caramel off your teeth and control accumulation of plaque.

Pumpkin Seeds: Another excellent seasonal treat to enjoy at Halloween would be roasted pumpkin seeds. Because this is a salty snack, not a sugary one, and because it doesn’t stick to teeth like chips or pretzels, you don’t have to worry much about tooth decay. Plus, pumpkin seeds are an excellent source of magnesium, a mineral that is essential for calcium absorption. More calcium absorption gives your body more material to build strong, healthy teeth.

Pixie Stix: As far as sweets go, powdery candies like Pixie Stix are actually a surprisingly good choice. Most of the danger of sugary candies comes from the risk of them leaving a residue on teeth that bacteria can then feed on. But because powdery candies dissolve so quickly, they really don’t leave much residue.

Sugar-Free Gum: While gum may not be a very attractive treat to adults, who can have gum whenever they want, it can be a good choice for kids. As long as you choose sugar-free gum, there is no risk of contributing to tooth decay. In fact, sugarless gum can actually protect teeth by increasing saliva flow to wash away food residue and bacteria.

Any Treat Followed By Brushing: So long as you are careful to brush your teeth soon after eating a sugary Halloween treat, you can actually eat just about anything you like. Prompt brushing minimizes the time that sugars spend in contact with teeth, robs bacteria of the food they need to cause decay, and helps to normalize the pH of your mouth to prevent acid erosion. If you can’t brush, do the next best thing and at least rinse out your mouth with water after your Halloween treat.