Dentists present 6 of the worst Halloween candy for teeth and 2 better options

Gummy sweets are difficult to chew and might become lodged between the teeth.

Gummy bears. Stock Image

The general dentist at Smile! Dental Boutique in New Jersey, Dr. Hajera Ali, has a sweet tooth like the rest of us.

Ali told Insider that gummy candies are likely among the worst, despite being his personal favorite. “It adheres to teeth and requires significantly more chewing than other candies. The sugar is in contact with the teeth for a longer amount of time, and it can adhere to difficult-to-clean regions such as between the teeth.”

Similar to candies, caramels are sticky and require considerable time to dissolve.

Caramel candies.

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“The worst Halloween candies are generally those that ‘stick with you’ for a long time and take a while to dissolve, particularly caramels and gummy-like candies,” said Dr. Joyce Kahng, cosmetic dentist and assistant professor at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC.

Candies such as Starburst can damage crowns and fillings.

Starburst.

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“These are like tiny sugar bombs that reside in the inaccessible nooks of your teeth until they melt,” Kahng explained. Starburst derivatives, such as the Trader Joe’s version or Now and Laters, can also be difficult on crowns and fillings by adhering to and pulling on them.

Lollipops may not be sticky, but they’re consumed slowly, which means prolonged acidity that can wear on teeth.

Lollipops.

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While lollipops may not get stuck in between teeth, they do take a while to finish.

“Lollipops are also sneaky — they are not as sticky, but the activity of eating them takes a long time,” Kahng said. “The longer someone spends eating candy, the longer the mouth is in an acidic state, so it is best to keep these activities as short as possible.”

Sour powder candies like Pixy Stix or Wonka Fun Dip are incredibly acidic.

Pixy Stix.

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“It’s all about balance. Literally. Keeping the pH in your mouth close to neutral (seven) is the name of the game,” Dr. Aaleeyah Alim, a Chicago-based dentist and founder of the hashtag #ToothTuesday, told Insider. “For reference: water, which is neutral, has a pH of seven and battery acid has a pH of one. Your teeth start to decalcify, or break down, at a pH of four. Some of the worst candy for your teeth is Wonka Fun Dip, Pixy Stix powder, and Now and Laters. The pH of those are all below two!”

Even sugar-free candies can still be acidic enough to wear down enamel.

Sugar-free taffy.

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Kahng says that candies and gum made with the sugar alternative xylitol often still contain citric acid, which can damage tooth enamel.

“Although these have reduced to no sugar, it can be argued that excessive gum chewing can result in faster wear of the enamel,” Kahng said. “I’ve also found that most xylitol candies are formulated with citric acid, which technically makes the candy sugar-free but acidic. People assume they are home free when choosing sugar-free candies, but an acidic pH can be just as bad when it comes to damaging the enamel.”

Chocolate is a better Halloween candy option, according to Ali.

Squares of Hershey’s chocolate.

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“It can be eaten quickly, dissolves fast, and washes away from your teeth easily after brushing,” Ali said.

Kahng recommends enjoying the stickiness of caramel in the form of a caramel apple.

Caramel apples.

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“My favorite treat on Halloween is a little sweet and a little naughty: caramel-covered apples,” she said. “Although the caramel is sticky, the apples are crisp and help to clean the surfaces of the teeth. I think Halloween is to be enjoyed and I don’t mind indulging every once in a while.”

Alim, Kahng, and Ali all agree that it’s OK to indulge every once in a while.

It’s okay to enjoy Halloween candy.

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To lessen the negative effects of sugary sweets on your teeth, Alim recommends eating candy in one sitting instead of nibbling on it throughout the day and swishing your mouth with water afterwards.

“I am guilty of loving candy,” Alim said. “As a dentist, that’s something I actually share with my patients often. Because I let them know you can enjoy candy responsibly and still have healthy teeth.”