As orange-and-black decorations go up across neighborhoods, so do piles of candy. Dentists say you don’t have to ruin the fun to protect your family’s teeth — but a little strategy helps. Below are expert-backed tips on which sweets to skip, how to limit the damage, innovative alternatives to offer, and local Indianapolis resources for families who need affordable dental care.

What to avoid and why

Many dentists point to the same three troublemakers: sticky, hard and sour candies.

Dr. Irina Kessler, partner at New York Family Dental Arts, puts it: “Any candies that are sticky, hard, or sour are the worst for teeth.”

Sticky candies cling to crevices and extend sugar exposure, hard candies can crack or chip teeth, and sour candies combine sugar with acid that wears down enamel.

“Sticky

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