Be Candy-Smart at Halloween! - Mississippi State Department of Health

Yes, you can have candy while still protecting your teeth from cavities! Help your kids (and yourself) with these tips. And yes, a little chocolate is just fine.

#1 Brush after snacking!

Brushing is still the best way to protect teeth from decay after having sweets or snacks of any kind — every time you snack. But when that's not possible, here are other helpful steps you and your kids can take.

With meals, not between.

Candy between meals leaves sugar residue on the teeth for hours, giving cavities plenty of time to develop. Candy before or with a meal gives a chance for teeth to be naturally cleaned by chewing — and brushing after a meal.

Keep water handy.

You should always brush after eating sweets. But if you can't, encourage kids to simply rinse with pure water. This removes many of the sugars that remain behind to encourage bacterial growth that harms teeth and gums. Keep plenty of water handy for candy!

Sour candy attacks teeth.

Sour candy is acidic — it directly attacks the enamel that protects teeth. Limit this type of candy and fight back by drinking water immediately afterward.

Sticky candy feeds bacteria.

Sticky candy leaves a long-lasting supply of sugar on teeth. Bacteria love it! Brush afterward, or encourage kids to eat non-sticky food afterward: try fruit, nuts, pretzels or sugar-free gum.

Can't brush? Try sugar-free gum.

Kids think it's a treat, but sugar-free gum is a great way to help remove sugar residue from teeth when you can't brush. Make it part of your Halloween survival kit.

A little chocolate is ... OK!

Less sugary than hard candy, less sticky than caramel, chocolate is friendlier to oral health than most other sweets. Trade excess candy of other types for a little extra chocolate.