Dr. Reza Khazaie on October 28, 2020
It’s Halloween season, and it's all about candy.
According to Fortune.com, US kids will eat three full cups of sugar, or approximately 7,000 calories, of candy on Halloween alone. To put this in context, this is equivalent to consuming 170 standard sized sugar cubes in one evening. Let's not forget the bags of leftover candy that kids will be consuming in the days and weeks to follow once the trick-or-treating is over.
Unfortunately, kids (and many adults) aren’t the only ones who will be feasting on candy. Sugar-loving bacteria will also be having a party in each of our mouths.
While many throw caution to the wind with the number of calories involved in a single night of unbridled candy consumption, what I see at Willow Pass Dental Care is a coming wave of cavity cases over the next several months.
As we all know, sugar and bacteria form a potent combo. Bacteria thrive on sugar. They feed on it, and when exposed to the highly refined sugars found in candy, they can proliferate rapidly.
Bacteria, sugar, and children’s teeth simply don’t mix.
However, for discerning parents and oral health-conscious families, there is plenty of equally delicious tasty candy that you can give your kids for Halloween and throughout the year.
As society becomes more conscious of the food we put in our bodies, the market takes notice, and as consumers, we get the benefit of new ideas.
A good example is a 13-year-old teenager named Alina Morse who asked her father the "million dollar" question: "Why can't we make a healthy lollipop that's good for my teeth so that I can have candy, and it wouldn't be bad for me?"
Well, it didn't take long for Alina to tackle the project for herself. After two years of researching and talking with her dental hygienist and dentist, Alina began creating and testing products.
Entrepreneur Magazine recognized one of the Youngest Millionaire's --- Alina Morse! Due to her drive to create a candy that is good for teeth, her startup ZolliPops has taken the market by storm, and now Alina has built a multi-million dollar business at only 13 years old!
So let me share with you what I consider the 5 best tasting and healthy candies in the marketplace. I'll start with two products from ZolliPops.
My 5 Best Healthy & Tasty Candies for 2020
Zolli Pops
Zolli Pops are sugar-free, non-GMO, gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, organic, kosher and mom approved!
Each pack comes in a convenient re-sealable pouch. Known as The After You Eat Treat, enjoy one after every meal, up to three per day, for a cleaner, healthier smile. It's the smart, yummy treat for your teeth.
Zaffi Taffy
Zaffi Taffy also a product produced by Zolli Pops is a delicious, natural way to cleaner teeth and a healthy smile. Supercharged with Xylitol and Erythritol, this sugar-free taffy candy is a good-for-you treat that helps keep your teeth fresh and healthy.
Smart Sweets
Check out their website. Very fun and creative. Their motto is "Kick Sugar Keep Halloween."
They see themselves on a crusade with #KICKSUGAR MOVEMENT.
Here's how they describe their candy:
"We love candy too. But we don't love all the sugar, weird artificial colors, and high calories in traditional sweets.
Our pinky swear to you is no added sugar, no sugar alcohols and no artificial sweeteners.
You deserve to feel GOOD about candy."
Get Unreal
It's all about the story and like Smart Sweets, Get Unreal has a good story and a fun website.
Here's how the two founders (Nicky, 21 years old and Kris, 24 years old) tell their story:
Once upon a time, there were two kids whose parents really didn't want them eating their favorite chocolates.
Not much of a story there, but it made these brothers dream: could they remake their favorites without the bad stuff?
A thousand recipes later (for real), they cracked the code to make some of the best tasting chocolate snacks ever.
We aren’t kids anymore. But we’re still inspired by our unreal dream. Good is back, and it’s just warming up.
The product name is cool, the company who produces it is called No Whey! Foods. They have several other all natural, allergy free, vegan candy such as PeaNOT Cups, Choco No No's, Milkless Polar Dream White, Fear Not, and Peppermint No No's.
Tasting Milkless and Fear Not will stop your cravings for Reeses, Snickers, Milky Ways, and Hershey Chocolate bars right in their tracks. These products are creamy, silky, and completely milk-free, nut-free, gluten-free, and wheat-free -- but taste just like the "real" deal.
9 Sweets You Can Enjoy When Done Responsibly
Teach Your Kids How to Enjoy Candy Responsibly
Ultimately, kids will be kids and, and as long as there is Halloween, kids will eat candy.
While healthy alternatives are always a good idea, the best thing a parent can do for their children is to teach them to enjoy candy responsibly and know when to stop.
Also, I recommend you teach your kids when and how to brush and floss after consuming sweets, and it's a great time to schedule a teeth cleaning and dental checkup at Willow Pass Dental Care.
Best Concord Dentists
Willow Pass Dental Care is the #1 Concord, CA Dentist. Whether you live in Concord or located in nearby locations like Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Martinez, Mococo, Pittsburg, and Antioch, we want to serve you and your family.
DR. REZA KHAZAIE
DDS. Prosthodontist
