It’s October, so the aisles of your favorite stores are filled with Halloween supplies. If you’re shopping for treats to hand out, we encourage you to select smile-friendly Halloween candy. 

This short video presents a list of five good options and five bad ones.

The five good: Unreal Milk Chocolate Gems, Endangered Species Dark Chocolate Bites, Peanut M&Ms, Snicker’s, and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. As dentists, we agree with these. Generally speaking, chocolate is a good choice. It melts easily and washes away from teeth. Dark chocolate is better for your overall health, and nuts offer added nutritional benefits too. 

The five bad: candy corn, gummy bears, Smarties, jelly beans, and Airheads. These are all quite high in sugar. They are also sticky, which means they adhere to teeth and are difficult to remove. Because of this, they are more likely to result in cavities and other problems. 

The video has another great suggestion. Keep candy out of sight to cut down on the temptation to overindulge. 

As your dentist, we have another suggestion. If you’re due for an exam and cleaning anyway, go ahead and schedule it shortly after Halloween. We’ll remove the plaque and other problematic substances you’ve missed while brushing and flossing at home. 

To make an appointment in Valley, NE, call Twin Rivers Dental at 531-221-1177.