Candy Giving Expected To Be Up This Halloween

OAK BROOK, Ill., Oct. 20, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- If current trends hold, kids across the nation can expect a good Halloween. Households giving out candy will be up this year, while parents eating their kids' Halloween candy will take a steep nosedive. All according to a new nationwide analysis by Delta Dental Plans Association (DDPA), a group that pays keen attention to details and trends around candy consumption.

Candy giving increase:
According to the analysis, candy giving will be up 5% this year. In 2013, 73% of parents gave out candy, based on a new 2015 Delta Dental survey, 78% of parents say they'll hand out candy this year.

Less parental looting:
In 2013, nearly 80% of parents admitted to eating some of their kids' Halloween candy, this year marks a sharp decrease, with only 66% of parents saying they'll pilfer from the Halloween haul. Moms are more likely than dads (71% v 61%) to raid their child's Halloween candy. 

Bad news for chocolate lovers:
While chocolate continues to top the charts this year as the most handed out Halloween candy, 14% fewer parents say they'll be giving it to trick-or-treaters. In 2013, 73% of parents gave out chocolate on Halloween, this year that number has dropped to 59%.

Fewer household rules on candy consumption:
The number of parents limiting the amount of Halloween candy their child can eat at a time has decreased by 28%, from 89% in 2013, to 61% this year, according to the analysis.

On the heels of the analysis, DDPA is also releasing some quick tips to combatting all that sugar consumption:

• Eat dinner before trick-or-treating. If your children have full bellies, they may be less likely to overindulge in candy when they get home.
• Enjoy Halloween candy after a meal to take advantage of increased saliva production and help wash away sugar and bacteria left by candy.
• Make sure your children drink extra water to stay hydrated during trick-or-treating and to help wash away sugar that may otherwise cause tooth decay.
• Remind children to brush for two minutes and floss after they dig into their trick-or-treat bags. Practicing good oral hygiene will help keep their mouths clean and their teeth free of decay.

For fun and interactive Halloween activities for kids, visit Delta Dental's Tricky Treats page.

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About Delta Dental Plans Association
The nonprofit Delta Dental Plans Association, based in Oak Brook, Ill., is the national association of Delta Dental member companies, which collectively make up the nation's leading dental benefits provider, with enrollment of nearly 70 million Americans, including over 120,000 groups. For more information, visit our website at deltadental.com.

SOURCE Delta Dental Plans Association