You don’t have to ban the candy bag. When and how your child eats their treats matters more for their teeth than how many they collect.
The Worst Offenders
Hard candies, lollipops, and suckers bathe teeth in sugar for minutes at a time. Caramels, taffy, and gummies stick in the grooves for hours.
The Better Picks
Plain chocolate melts and rinses away quickly. Sugar-free sweetened candies with xylitol are always a better option. If your child is choosing favourites to keep, steer them toward chocolate over chewy or hard candy.
One Sitting Beats All Day
Eating a few treats at once, especially right after a meal, is far easier on teeth than nibbling one piece every hour. Each new piece starts a new acid attack. We encourage have them at one time and water right after to rinse.
What Matters Most
- Enjoy treats at one time
- Drink water after eating candy
- Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste
- Trade extra candy for a toy or treat if possible