Enjoy Halloween Treats with These Dental Tricks!

Check out some healthier homemade options

Are you looking forward to Halloween but feeling a bit spooked about keeping your smile white and bright due to the Halloween treats? Not to worry! You and your family can still enjoy the spookiest season of the year without sacrificing dental health. The key is to avoid our list of “cautionary candy” and check out some homemade tooth-friendly options that won’t terrorize your smile. Keep reading to learn more!

Which Candy Has the Most Sugar?

While your sweet tooth may tempt you to choose your favorite candy, it’s important to note that not all Halloween treats contain the same sugar content. In fact, some of your favorite candy may be much worse for your smile than others. So which ones should you toss from your Halloween haul? Here are the store-bought candies that contain the highest sugar count:

Smarties: You would be wise to avoid eating too many Smarties. One small pack contains 11 grams of sugar!
Twix Bars: While they pack some sweet, delicious crunch, your smile will suffer if you eat too many Twix. Just one fun-size Twix bar contains 17 grams of sugar.
Snickers: Despite being one of the most handed-out Halloween candies, the Snickers bar makes the “toss” list because a fun-size bar contains 17 grams of sugar!
Peanut M&Ms: The problem with peanut M&Ms is that it’s impossible to eat only one, much less a handful! However, even a fun-size package contains a whopping 18 grams of sugar—not so fun for your smile.
Nestle Crunch: While each crunchy bite may be more addictive than the last, a Nestle Crunch bar contains 21 grams of sugar, along with one of the highest calorie counts of any bar on this list!
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups: Don’t let the peanut butter’s protein fool you— a single snack-size peanut butter cup contains 22 grams of sugar.
Raisinets: Sure, raisins are technically a fruit but raisinets are anything but healthy! A fun-size package contains an alarming 28 grams of sugar!
Starburst: Your teeth may be bursting with cavities if you overdo it with this popular candy. One serving size contains 29 grams of sugar. Plus, it takes lots of extra brushing and flossing to remove the chewy, sticky texture from your teeth.
Candy Corn: This iconic fall candy nearly tops the list due its 31-gram sugar count…and that’s within one treat pack!
Skittles: This sour candy favorite is certain to make your dentist skittish! That’s because a fun-size bag of Skittles contains an astounding 34 grams of sugar… yikes!

Healthier Homemade Options for Halloween Treats

With just a little extra time and effort, you can get creative in the kitchen to make your own Halloween treats. They can be prepared with less sugar than the store-bought trick-or-treat staples from our “haunted treats” list but they’re also guaranteed to deliver smiles from your favorite ghosts and goblins. Here are links to a few of our favorite recipes: