Give tooth decay the fright it deserves - avoid sticky sweets this Halloween

Households preparing for Halloween this weekend are being urged to limit sticky sweets and lollipops in trick-or-treat bags, as dental surgeons warn that preventable tooth decay continues to affect thousands of children.

More than 21,000 hospital episodes involving tooth decay were recorded among five-to nine-year-olds in England in the year to April.

Tooth decay has remained a leading cause of hospital admissions for children in this age group for more than a decade. In addition, just six out of ten children saw an NHS dentist in the past year.

Professor Martyn Cobourne, Dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery (FDS) at the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS England), is urging people to think carefully about the sweets they hand out this Halloween:

“My advice is simple: please think about alternatives to sticky sweets and lollipops for trick-or-treaters. Halloween should be fun, not a cause of future dental problems. While sugary treats are often part of the celebrations, there are simple ways to reduce the impact on children’s teeth."

"The longer a lollipop is sucked, the longer teeth are exposed to sugar, increasing the risk of tooth decay. The number of small children having tooth extractions in hospital is rising. We need to do more to prevent children reaching the point where they need treatment in hospital.”

Our top tips can help families strike the right balance, and swapping sticky sweets for chocolate and small gifts like stickers, pencils or bracelets is a great way to help keep tooth decay at bay.

Our three top tips for protecting children's teeth:

1. Avoid sticky sweets: lollipops and chewy treats cling to your teeth and increase the risk of decay.
2. Brush it off: get rid of the harmful bacteria by brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste: a new toothbrush in a favourite colour or with a cartoon character can make brushing more exciting.
3. Keep sweets with meals, not between them: eating sugary treats alongside meals helps protect teeth by limiting acid attacks and giving saliva time to repair enamel. Snacking too often means teeth don’t get a break, which can lead to long-term damage.

Notes to editors

In 2025/26, there were 38,874 hospital episodes involving tooth decay among children aged 1-18, including 21,787 among 5-9-year-olds (a 3% increase on the previous year). (Hospital Admitted Patient Care Activity, 2025-26 - NHS England Digital)

Only 60% of children had seen an NHS dentist in 2025/2026. (Dental statistics - England 2025/26 | NHSBSA)

The Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of England is committed to enabling dentists and specialists to provide patients with the highest possible standards of practice and care.

The Royal College of Surgeons of England provides world-class education, assessment, and development to 30,000 surgeons, dental professionals, and members of the wider surgical and dental care teams, at all stages of their careers. Our vision is to see excellent surgical care for everyone. We do this by setting professional standards, facilitating research and championing the best outcomes for patients.

For more information, please contact the RCS England press office: telephone: 020 7869 6053/6054/6060; email: pressoffice@rcseng.ac.uk. For out-of-hours media enquiries: 0207 869 6056.

The Royal College of Surgeons of England is a professional membership organisation and registered charity, which exists to advance surgical standards and improve patient care.

For more information, please contact the Press Office:

• Telephone: 020 7869 6047/6052
• Email: pressoffice@rcseng.ac.uk
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