The best and worst Halloween treats for kids
The best treats would be non-sugary goodies such as:
- stickers
- small party favor toys
- glow-in-the-dark insects
- rubber worms.
Small boxes of raisins, almonds, sunflower seeds, pistachios or even pretzels are healthier than most candies.
The worst treats are chewy and sticky candies such as taffy and gummies that get stuck in the crevices of the teeth. High acid candies such as Lemonheads, Warheads and Sour Patch Kids can break down tooth enamel.
We also advise our patients to wait about 30 minutes before brushing after eating sour candies, allowing your saliva to restore the natural balance of acid in your mouth.
Here are some candy comparisons, as cited in Real Simple Magazine
- Choose Snickers over Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups because it has less fat and fewer calories
- Choose Peanut M&M’s over Skittles because the peanuts help lower the glycemic index so the sugar is released more slowly in the bloodstream
- Choose Kit Kat over Twix to save calories and due to smaller amounts of sodium and fat
Parents should also monitor the amount of candy intake at Halloween, and all year round.