Parents - Halloween toothbrush, a trick or a treat?

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Halloween toothbrush, a trick or a treat?

MINNEAPOLIS, Mich. (UPI) -- Minnesota dentists urge Halloween candy buyers to steer clear of tooth-enamel-eroding "sour candy."

Members of the Minnesota Dental Association say acids in hard and gummy candies that promise an "extreme" sour taste or a sweet and sour experience can weaken protective tooth enamel and make teeth prone to decay.

"As dentists, we see an alarming number of children with permanent erosion of the dental enamel on their teeth," Dr. Bruce Templeton, president of the Minnesota Dental Association in Minneapolis, says in a statement. "We know that the increasingly popular sour candies are a factor, so we invite you to consider other alternatives for Halloween treats."

Also better for teeth than sticky take-long-to-eat candy like caramels are small candy bars that are eaten quickly and don't linger. Other tooth-friendly treat ideas the dentists suggest are:

-- Small bags of chips, peanuts or pretzels.

-- Sugarless gum.

-- Non-food items like money, stickers or toothbrushes.

-- Toothbrushes.

Copyright 2009 by United Press International

This news arrived on: 10/23/2009

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