There is one immutable truth to Halloween candies: they are all bad for you, says guest blogger, Chicago-area dentist Dino Mantis. He doesn't want to spoil your fun, but he does want you to know that some are worse than others.
To help, Mantis has separated Halloween candies into five distinct types and rated, on a scale from 1-10 (1 being good for your teeth, 10 being the absolute worst cavity-causers), their proclivity for causing cavities.
Taffy and hard candy are the two worst offenders. Use this Halloween guide to safeguarding your children's teeth, Mantis says but, "as always, be wary of excess consumption of any trickery treat."
Taffy
Fear Factor Score: 9 out of 10
"Traditionally, dentists have always known that the longer a food sticks to the teeth the longer bacteria has to feed on it to produce cavity-causing acid," Mantis said. "One of the best ways to avoid cavities during Halloween is to avoid the sticky candy that can plaster your teeth and wedge itself into the nooks and crannies of your mouth."
