The short version
- Eat treats with meals, not as all-day snacks
- Skip sticky, gummy, hard and sour candies
- Chocolate in small amounts is a better pick; dark chocolate even more so
Cavities are not just about how much sugar kids eat. They are about how often teeth are exposed to it and for how long. That is good news, because it means a plan matters more than a ban.
The best and worst treats
- Worst: hard candies, lollipops, taffy, gummies and sour candies. They stay in the mouth for a long time, and sour candies add acid
- Better: plain chocolate, which washes off teeth more easily. Dark chocolate contains less sugar than milk chocolate
- Best: sugar-free gum with the ADA Seal, which boosts saliva and helps clean teeth
A simple family plan
- Let kids pick a handful of favorites and set the rest aside
- Serve treats with or right after a meal, when extra saliva helps rinse away sugar and acid
- Avoid all-day grazing from the candy bowl
- Drink water, ideally fluoridated tap water
- Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, and floss
Have extra candy? Some families donate it or trade it for a small toy or an outing.
Sources
General information, not a diagnosis. Talk with your child's dentist about their specific needs.