With Halloween right around the corner and the rise of gluten sensitivities, there comes the issue of “Is there Gluten-Free Candy?” The answer is Yes, there are candies that are gluten-free.
Our dental office staff has children with gluten sensitivities, making this an issue that is important to us.
Here is a list of our children’s favorite Gluten Free Candies:
- Life Savers
- M&M’s (Not all varieties)
- Milk Duds
- Now & Laters
- Reeses Pieces
- Skittles
- 3 Musketeers
- Butterfingers
- Dum Dum Lollipops
- Hersey’s Milk Chocolate
- Hot Tamales
- Jolly Ranchers
- Laffy Taffy
- Lemonheads
- Snickers
- Starbursts
- Wonka Fun Dip
- Jelly Belly Jelly Beans
- Haribo
- Gold-Bears (not “juicy” variety)
- Twin Cherries
Whether you have gluten sensitivities or not, when it comes to eating candy on Halloween it is always good to practice good oral hygiene with your children. Our dental office does not endorse eating Halloween Candy but offer these tips for enjoying your Halloween without sacrificing your children’s oral health on Halloween or throughout the year.
1. Talk to Children About Candy and their Teeth.
Halloween is a great opportunity to talk to your children about the effects of candy on their teeth. Teach them that eating too many sweets can lead to cavities.
2. Be Preventative
It is a good idea to drink water while eating sweets to keep sugar from resting on and in between teeth. It is important to brush and floss teeth thoroughly after eating any type of candy. If your children are 7 years old or younger, you may want to help them brush their teeth. Giving your children the opportunity to pick out their favorite toothpaste, toothbrush and floss can help make brushing their teeth a more fun experience.
3. Candies to Avoid
If you or your children are going enjoy candy this Halloween, try to stay away from hard candies that tend to stay in the mouth for long periods of time. These candies lead to high risk of cavities. Stay away from sticky and chewy candies such as gummies, caramels, taffy and other similar types of candy. These types of candy stick to the teeth and are difficult for saliva to break down.
4. Moderation
Remind children they do not have to eat all their Halloween candy in one sitting. It is good to space it out and only consume a small amount of candy at any chosen time. A preferred time should be after a healthy meal.
5. Alternatives
One alternative to Trick Or Treating for candy this Halloween is the Teal Pumpkin Project. The Teal Pumpkin Project promotes non-food treats while raising awareness of food allergies. If you would like to learn more about it, visit the Teal Pumpkin Project page on FoodAllergy.org to read more about it. Another alternative to eating Trick Or Treat candy is donating your candy to local charities.
Dr. Herman’s Dental Office wishes you a safe and cavity free Halloween this year.
