When it comes to dental health, sugar is the enemy. Therefore, sugar-free candy is one good solution that every parent should consider.

There are a variety of sugar substitutes and artificial sweeteners, and they aren’t all created equal. In general, you’ll want to avoid sweeteners with a checkered history like saccharin, sucralose, and aspartame. While these three remain FDA-approved, they have come under scrutiny for being linked from everything from cancer to attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Instead, when looking for sugar-free sweets and treats, look for products sweetened with so-called alcohol sugars such as erythritol, or xylitol. Or, better yet, buy candy made with stevia, a natural sugar substitute extracted from plants.

Sugar-free gums are a super healthy alternative to conventional candies. Not only do they come in a variety of delicious flavors, but they also contain no sugar, little to no calories, and help maintain good oral health.

Chocolate isn’t the best option for your teeth. But sometimes chocolate just can’t be avoided. When given a choice, opt for dark chocolate. Dark chocolate contains significantly less sugar than conventional milk chocolate candies and, as a bonus, also contain more antioxidants and fiber.

For an even healthier alternative, try getting nuts or dried fruits dipped in dark chocolate. Not only does this reduce the amount of chocolate, but it also provides a nutritious punch you won’t get from Jolly Ranchers or Tootsie Rolls.

Fresh fruits are a good choice. When possible, opt to satisfy your family’s sweet tooth with fresh fruit packed with vitamins and minerals. 

Dried fruits are not the best solution but is better than artificially flavored and colored candies full of preservatives and food dyes.

Like dried fruits, chocolate-dipped fruits can be a choice for those who just crave and must have chocolate. A strawberry dipped in chocolate will satisfy any adult and any child’s sweet tooth and can satisfy that sweet tooth if done in moderation.

Nuts dipped in chocolate can be a delicious and relatively healthy alternative to regular chocolate candy.

Kids love gummy bears. So why not give them gummy bears containing vitamins and minerals?

One word of caution: while it is highly unlikely to overdose on vitamin candy (the upper limit is 2,000mg per day), you should still monitor the number of vitamin gummies your kids consume. Side effects of consuming too many vitamin gummies may include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, cramps, headache, and insomnia.

While rainbow-colored candy may be visually appealing and great fun, that color explosion doesn’t come naturally.

Of the many food dyes that have been invented over the past century or so, only eight food dyes have been deemed safe to ingest - Blue #1, Blue #2, Citrus Red #2, Green #3, Red #3, Red #40, Yellow #5, and Yellow #6.

Even FDA-approved food dyes listed above have come under fire.

Red #40 and Yellow #5, for instance, have been inconclusively linked to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and cancer.

To make matters worse, petroleum-based dyes can accumulate in the body over time compounding their negative effects over time. As one would imagine, bioaccumulation of these dyes occurs at a higher rate within the bodies of small children.

I’d recommend that discerning parents do their best to help their kids avoid oversaturated candies loaded with artificial dyes.