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Dentists are bracing for the fallout from the annual sugar binge known as Halloween: a cavity filled with Laffy Taffy, plaque from Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and worn enamel caused by biting into Everlasting Gobstoppers.

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And that's just their adult patients.

About 90 percent of parents admit to sneaking candy from their kids' trick-or-treat bags, according to the National Confectioners Association, the first misstep in a dangerously caloric holiday season.

You know it's best to avoid the sugary sweets, but that's just going to make you or your children feel deprived; then everyone might indulge even more.

Instead, minimize the damage before, during and after the event with these tips from Charles Stuart Platkin, author of "The Diet Detective's Calorie Bargain Bible" (Fireside, $13), and Chicago-area dentist Dino Mantis.

What to give

* Offer a toy instead of candy. Children will not be disappointed by the switcheroo, according to Yale researchers. And it's a great option for kids with food allergies. The down side is that cheap toys might contain lead or chemicals such as phthalates found in soft plastic that have been implicated in male reproductive problems, or they may present choking hazards.

* Go with healthier snacks. Try something like Bear Naked granola, which Platkin calls "a treat, not a turnoff." Bear Naked, which comes in 1.35-ounce snack packs, contains whole grains, fruits, nuts and fiber and is free of trans fats, artificial flavors and preservatives. Loyola University students will be handing out samples to Chicago-area families on Halloween day. Healthier treats "make an important statement to your own family," Platkin said. "And you know you're also digging into that bowl yourself."

* Remember kids with food allergies. Six of the top eight major food allergens that make up almost all allergic reactions are found in candy: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts (such as walnuts or almonds), soy and wheat. Chocolate candies may contain other ingredients that can elicit allergic reactions. If your treat is peanut or tree-nut safe, put a sign at your door. Or ask trick-or-treaters if they have food allergies. Try offering organic lollipops, Dum Dums, Smarties or Pixie Stix.

Make good choices

* Taffy and hard candies are the two worst treats because they stick to your teeth and take a long time to dissolve, giving bacteria more time to feed and produce cavity-causing acid, Mantis said. The longer food sits in your mouth, the more acidic the environment becomes.

* Candy corn versus mini chocolate: Based on calories and fat, choose candy corn, Platkin said. Its sweetness make it hard to gorge on more than a couple of 1-ounce packages (220 calories for two packages,) and it's virtually fat free, Platkin said. It's too easy to eat chocolate quickly, and each mini candy bar has about 45 to 80 calories. "Chocolate also has more saturated fat, but it does have antioxidants and calcium," Platkin said. So if you choose the chocolate minis, just take two or three, Platkin said.

* Or, if you really need chocolate, opt for mini York Peppermint Patties, which have 50 calories and 1 gram of fat, Platkin said.

* Don't go trick or treating in a car! Walk with your kids and burn calories. If you're handing out treats, stock up with candy that you don't like (if there is any). Put the bowl upstairs so you have to run up to get it, Platkin said. "Do this 10 times and you've burned about 68 calories."

Damage control

* Swap out the candy: Let your child pick a few pieces and then offer to exchange the candy for something else your child wants: a game, movie or another toy, Dino Mantis suggests. Unload candy on your office colleagues.

* Freeze your chocolate for eating: Gooey, melted peanut-butter cups sink into the crevices of your teeth, attracting acid-producing bacteria. This, Mantis said, is a "match made in tooth-rotting heaven."

Copyright © 2007. Chicago Tribune.