Tag: candy

Fun Candy Facts for 2019

Oct, 24, 2019

At Meyer & Johns, we’re getting our costumes planned, and decorating the office for Halloween. In spite of all the candy, we love this holiday so much we celebrate the whole month long. In honor of the observance, we’re taking our annual look at America’s favorite candy.

Big Business

Despite an overall reduction in consumer spending, Halloween candy sales are expected to hold steady at $2.6 billion, with 95% of all U.S. households purchasing some type of candy. And according to the National Retail Federation, the most popular candy nationwide this year is M&M’s. It increased in popularity by 23%, leading to double-digit gains on the Favorites list and leap-frogging over last year’s #1 and perennial top contender Reese’s cups.

Pass on These?

Another survey, conducted by CandyStore.com, ranked the least-favorite candies of all time. You know, the ones that you find at the bottom of the Halloween bag weeks (or months, or maybe October 1, 2020) after all the rest is long gone. Here is their Bottom 10 list of America’s Worst Candy:

10. Bit-O-Honey

9. Good & Plenty

8. Licorice (Black, NOT Twizzlers!)

7. Smarties

6. Tootsie Rolls

5. Necco Wafers

4. Wax Coke Bottles

3. Peanut Butter Kisses (aka Mary Janes)

2. Circus Peanuts (#1 worst in 2018)

1. Candy Corn (Whaaaaat…?!)

We know there will be some intense debate over some of these on the list, which includes a couple of our personal favorites. But now is the time for us as dentists to point out that any and all of these can be the worst for kids’ teeth if proper brushing doesn’t happen.

Managing Candy consumption

For both overall and tooth health, the candy intake of children should be monitored. Make sure they’re not sneaking into the bag between meals (or before breakfast). Set up parameters that work for both you and your child, and then stick to them. And as always, make sure any consumption is followed up with a thorough brushing.

Happy Halloween from all of us at Meyer & Johns Dental!

America’s Favorite Halloween Candy Is…

Oct, 26, 2018

Even though it’s many people’s favorite holiday, Halloween might seem like a nightmare for dentists. Actually, at Meyer & Johns we LOVE Halloween — our staff is in the spirit all month long. It’s just the after-effects of all that candy we don’t like. We talk about it every year, but sensible consumption and good brushing habits are key to winning the candy battle. We trust that you know what strategy works best with each of your children. If you’re still not sure, check out our blog post HERE for age and developmentally-appropriate approaches.

We trust that you know what to do, so enough about teeth – let’s talk about the candy! Confectionary information and shopping website candystore.com has compiled a mountain of data on candy sales and consumption. They recently published an interactive map that lists the favorite Halloween candy for each of the 50 U.S. states, including pounds sold, as well as 2nd and 3rd-place choices by state.

Missouri’s fave? The Milky Way bar, a preference we share with Maryland and Vermont. Some of the interesting tidbits include:

Corn Rules! Candy Corn is the most popular nationwide, taking the top spot in seven of the 50 states. Somewhat surprisingly, Skittles came in at #2, with five.
Cowboy Candy? Dubble Bubble gum was the favorite Halloween candy in Oklahoma and Montana. Don’t they know what they’re missing?
Location, location… Not surprisingly, the extreme Northeast and Northwest favor salt water taffy.
Marketing wisely? Two of the most-recognizable and highly-promoted products – Twix and Kit-Kat – only ranked 1st in one state apiece.
Sour in the South – Lemonheads were the top pick in Louisiana.

Happy Halloween from your friends at Meyer & Johns Dental – Have fun, be safe, and don’t forget to brush!

Revenge of the Peeps – Winning the holiday candy battle

Apr, 17, 2017

brushing teeth fights candy residue — *Holidays like Easter are great times to reinforce healthy brushing habits with children.*

According to CNBC, Easter barely edged out Halloween in 2016 as the most candy-ful holiday in the U.S., with $823 million in sales. But if you’re a parent, all the numbers boil down to one thing – your little one probably has jellybeans and marshmallow Peeps stuck in their tiny teeth this week.

Easter is a great opportunity to teach or reinforce good brushing habits with your kids. It’s also good time to establish expectations about consuming candy and sweets. This is important for not just their dental health, but also for overall nutrition and healthy eating habits.

Too Early?

Parents can begin brushing from the appearance of baby’s first teeth. You should continue to brush and/or supervise the child’s daily mouth care routine until they are ready for elementary school. The American Dental Association recommends that by the time your child can tie their own shoes, they should also be able to brush and floss their teeth by themselves.

Some standard guidelines for brushing kids’ teeth;

Children should use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste and not swallow it
Clean all tooth surfaces – inside, outside, and tops – all the way to the gum line
Brush gently, back and forth
Don’t forget to brush that tongue!

You can begin flossing and letting children help brush their own teeth at around age four. Of course, you should supervise and help form healthy brushing habits from the beginning. Additionally, candy-heavy holidays like Easter, Halloween and Christmas are the perfect opportunity to teach kids where, when and how much candy its appropriate to consume.

If you need additional tips or help teaching your kids how to brush their teeth, let us know in the message section when you schedule your next check-up.