Por Renan Filho · 2026-10-30**Lead**
As millions of American adults prepare to raid their children’s Halloween stashes this weekend, a leading dental expert is sounding the alarm: many of the most popular candies can cause cracked teeth, broken dental work, and infections that may lead to root canals or tooth loss. Dr. Mark S. Wolff, a professor of restorative dentistry at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, warns that adults are especially vulnerable because their teeth and restorations — fillings, crowns, bridges — are often older and more brittle than those of children.
**Contexto**
Halloween is the single biggest candy-consuming holiday in the United States. According to the National Retail Federation, Americans were expected to spend over $3.5 billion on candy in 2024, with favorites including Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Snickers, candy corn, Starburst, and hard caramels like Milk Duds and Werther’s Originals. While parents typically worry about sugar intake and cavities in children, dentists say the mechanical stress of biting into hard or sticky candies poses a more immediate danger to adults.
Dr. Wolff explains that the problem is twofold. First, hard candies — such as Jolly Ranchers, lollipops, and jawbreakers — require significant biting force. Adult teeth that have been weakened by decades of wear, small cracks, or previous fillings can fracture under that pressure. Second, sticky candies like caramels, taffy, and gummy worms can pull out fillings, loosen crowns, or even dislodge bridges. Once a restoration is compromised, bacteria can seep into the tooth, leading to decay, abscesses, and the need for more extensive — and expensive — treatment.
A survey conducted by the American Dental Association (ADA) in 2023 found that nearly one in five adults reported having damaged a tooth or dental restoration while eating candy. The same survey indicated that emergency room visits for dental injuries spike by roughly 15 percent in the days following Halloween. While the ADA does not break out exact numbers by candy type, dentists consistently report that hard candies and sticky caramels are the most common culprits.
**Analise**
The risks extend beyond immediate fractures. Dr. Wolff notes that a cracked tooth may not hurt right away, allowing damage to progress silently. Over time, the crack can extend into the pulp — the living tissue inside the tooth — causing infection and severe pain. At that point, the only options are root canal therapy or extraction. For adults with existing dental work, the cost of repair can be substantial: a single crown can cost $1,000 to $3,000, and a root canal with a crown can exceed $4,000. Dental insurance often covers only a portion, leaving patients with significant out-of-pocket expenses.
Moreover, the sugar content of Halloween candy contributes to a longer-term problem. Even if a tooth survives the mechanical stress, the prolonged exposure to sugar — especially when people snack on candy throughout the day rather than eating it all at once — feeds harmful oral bacteria. These bacteria produce acid that erodes enamel, leading to cavities. Adults are already at higher risk for gum recession, which exposes the softer root surface of teeth, making them even more susceptible to decay.
Dr. Wolff recommends that adults limit themselves to softer candies that melt quickly, such as chocolate, and avoid hard or sticky varieties altogether. He also advises against biting into candy with the front teeth, which are thinner and more prone to fracture. Instead, he suggests breaking hard candies into smaller pieces or letting them dissolve in the mouth. Rinsing with water after eating candy can help neutralize acid, and waiting at least 30 minutes before brushing prevents spreading acid across the enamel.
**Fontes**
- Dr. Mark S. Wolff, Professor of Restorative Dentistry, University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine - American Dental Association (ADA), 2023 survey on candy-related dental injuries - National Retail Federation, Halloween spending data, 2024