Halloween is coming, and with it, several tricks and lots of sweet treats are sure to come your way. As parents, we need to keep an eye on our children’s teeth to help prevent cavities and toothaches that can be an unwanted sidekick to all that candy. Well, that and tummy aches. Great Expressions Dental Centers (GEDC) wants to help us all plan ahead before the sugar-fest!
Halloween Candy Fun Facts
Unfortunately, the indulgence that typically comes with trick-or-treating can ultimately lead to tooth decay, cavities and broken brackets for those with braces. According to one survey, 73% of kids ages 2-5 and 87% of 6-8 year olds in the U.S. eat candy on Halloween. But I am sure we all know that even as adults, we partake in consuming the sugary sweets as well. Therefore, GEDC has a few Halloween Fun Facts that will put a few things into perspective as far as dental hygiene is concerned:
- Americans buy roughly 600 million pounds of candy a year to celebrate Halloween.
- The week of Halloween, an incredible 90 million pounds of chocolate candy is sold – even more than the weeks leading into Easter and Valentine’s Day.
- Candy Corn is the highest selling candy, with Americans purchasing more than 20 million pounds every year.
- Favorite treats to receive while trick-or-treating? 84% of kids say gum and candy.
- Many kids know that candy can cause cavities. 42% say they are worried about getting cavities from too much Halloween candy.
- There are roughly 41 million trick-or-treaters across the U.S.
- Sweets that are chewy and sticky can get stuck between teeth, leading to tooth decay.
- Caramel sticks to teeth longer than other foods, causing more damage.