Well, it’s not what you might guess. I was hoping for some chocolate confection like a Twix or KitKat. But no, Minnesota’s candy of choice is… the Tootsie Pop. Coming in at a close second is Skittles, with Almond Joy in third place.
Candystore.com declared each state’s favorite candy by sifting through ten years of sales data looking at which candies sold best in each state in the months leading up to Halloween. Minnesota ordered 195,783 pounds of Tootsie Pops, 194,672 pounds of Skittles, and a mere 98,726 pounds of Almond Joys.
I’m sure you’re feeling a lot of feelings right now about Minnesota’s choices in satisfying its sweet tooth, but it’s that sweet tooth that might land you in the dentist chair come November 1st. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) provides valuable insights for having a happier Halloween not just for the kiddos’ smile, but for yours as well.
Choose Chocolate
I think I can get behind this suggestion. The AAPD suggests choosing chocolate over sticky candy like gummies, sour candy, and caramel. These sticker candies are more likely to get stuck in the crevices of your teeth causing bacteria, gum infections, and cavities. An even better choice is to reach for the dark chocolate for its antioxidants which help prevent tooth decay by stopping bacteria from sticking to your teeth.
Moderation
Well, I suppose it’s something to consider. Your teeth will thank you for having only a couple of your favorite treats instead of polishing off the whole bag of Reese’s Cups. Before the Halloween festivities commence, consider filling yourself up with a healthy meal. Not only will there be less room for treats, but it can lead you on the path to making better choices the rest of the night.
Brush Your Teeth
This may seem like an obvious one, but before you slip into your candy coma for the evening, make sure to brush your teeth to remove any excess leftover candy stuck in the grooves and spaces between teeth. Your minty fresh breath may also prevent you from lurking back out to the kitchen for just one more piece of candy.
For us Minnesotans, it looks like we should perhaps skip over the Tootsie Pops and Skittles, and go straight for our third favorite treat, the Almond Joy.
Happy Halloween! Read this article next: Minnesota’s Best Corn Mazes
