Sugar & diet · Safe treats
Safe treats & sweets
Timing the treats — so a treat doesn’t become a habit.
A one-off binge on sweets probably won’t do much harm — but grazing on a stash over days or weeks can. The trick is timing: it’s not the sweets themselves so much as when, and how often, you have them.
Decay comes from sugar attacks between meals
A sugar attack is any sweet or sugary moment — sweets, chocolate, biscuits, cakes, dried fruit and yoghurts, or sugary drinks like fizzy pop, juice, cordials and squash (including “no-added-sugar” ones). The more sugar attacks each day, the higher the risk of decay.
Myth: brushing after sweets prevents cavities
Brushing or using mouthwash after sweets sounds sensible, but it won’t undo a sugar attack that’s already happened. What counts is how many sugar attacks you have each day.
Truth: keep sweets to mealtimes
The best time for a sweet treat is just before or just after a meal — at lunch, tea, or even breakfast — but not between meals: not at break time, after school, or in the evening. Let children enjoy some treats on the day, then keep leftovers out of reach and give them back a few at a time, only at mealtimes.
Text and further advice adapted from dentalchoices.org.
Watch
See how to time the treats
A short film on why timing matters more than the treat itself — and how to enjoy sweets safely.
Common questions
Safe treats — your questions answered
Are sweets always bad for teeth?
It’s less about the sweets and more about timing. Occasional treats at mealtimes are fine; grazing between meals causes decay.
Does brushing after sweets undo the damage?
No — it won’t reverse a sugar attack that’s already happened. Fewer sugar attacks is what protects teeth.
When’s the best time for a treat?
Just before or after a meal — not between meals.
What should I do with a big stash (e.g. after Halloween)?
Keep it out of reach and hand out a few at a time, only at mealtimes.
Enjoy treats the tooth-friendly way
Keep sweets to mealtimes and the occasional treat stays just that.