Chances are high that candy corn is ending up in quite a few trick-or-treating baskets this Halloween, but the controversial confection has not always been associated with the spooky holiday.

The colorful treat has been around for more than 100 years.

It was invented in the 1880s in Philadelphia by George Renninger, an employee at Wunderle Candy Company, according to the National Confectioners Association in Washington, D.C.

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In keeping with a trend popular among confectioneries to make treats inspired by nature, candy corn was made to look like corn kernels.

It was initially marketed as faux chicken feed, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Candy corn’s unique layered tricolor design combined with a lack of automated machinery made for a difficult production process.

The treat became a seasonal item, with production beginning in late August and running through the fall, according to the National Confectioners Association.

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Around the turn of the 20th century, another candy company, Goelitz Confectionery (now Jelly Belly Candy Company) started selling candy corn.

Although the company didn’t invent the treat, it’s widely credited for producing the candy on a larger scale and marketing it as a Halloween product.

About 35 million pounds of candy corn are produced annually, according to Farmers’ Almanac, but it’s a notoriously polarizing item.

"It's the only other candy I would hope for aside from Reese's pieces if I was trick-or-treating," a candy corn fan said on Reddit.

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Another person mentioned liking the treat, but said he or she "can only have a handful at most before the sweetness is overwhelming."

Another person on Reddit was fully against candy corn, saying, "It’s disgusting. Tastes like nothing or chalk and never sweet. Don’t like the texture. Don’t like the color."

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Expanding beyond the grocery store aisle, earlier this fall Brach’s, a large producer of candy corn, released a non-edible variation of the treat.

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The brand debuted a limited-edition perfume, called Ode to Candy Corn, which "smells just like the iconic treat tastes," per parent company Ferrara’s website.

Cavities aren't the only Halloween candy hazard — many sweets can cause a fright to teeth and dental work even in adults, a dentist warns.

Hard sweets can crack a tooth, while sticky treats can pull out dental work, potentially turning a trick-or-treat haul into an expensive dental visit, according to Dr. Marc Lazare, a New York City dentist who has practiced for nearly 30 years and focuses on biomimetic dentistry.

But Lazare isn't trying to spook people. 

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"I'm never going to be the dentist who says, 'Don't enjoy Halloween. Don't have candy,'" he told Fox News Digital. "I love Halloween."

It's all about moderation, he said.

As a dentist, he said he evaluates candy by how it could damage teeth: "Can it harm the enamel? Can it contribute to decay and cavities? Can it pull out a filling or a crown? Can it crack a tooth?" 

People with fillings, posts, crowns, existing cracks or teeth weakened by grinding are particularly vulnerable, he noted.

Hard sweets can force people to crunch down, which may crack or split a tooth, especially one that has already been restored, Lazare said.

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"Anything where you have to force a crunch is not good," he said.

Super-sticky candies and caramels can cling to teeth and pull out fillings or crowns. Chewy sweets can get stuck between teeth, prolonging sugar exposure and what Lazare called an "acid attack."

Sour candy can also expose enamel to acid, he warned. He recommended avoiding snacking throughout the day to help limit acid exposure.

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Candy isn't the only Halloween treat that can haunt your teeth, Lazare noted. While raisins are often seen as a healthier alternative for trick-or-treaters, they can stick to teeth and also contribute to prolonged acid exposure. 

"Raisins are probably one of the worst things you can have for your teeth," he said.

Lazare said his treat recommendation would be chocolate, which melts and dissolves quickly. Dark chocolate is best, he said, because it tends to be lower in sugar than other candy, but beware of fillings like raisins and toffee in that chocolate.

If you do indulge in some Halloween candy, Lazare said, some easy tips can help mitigate the damage.

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Rinse with water and wait about an hour before brushing because acid can temporarily soften tooth enamel and brushing immediately may increase wear. Then maintain your regular brushing and flossing routine. 

Sugar-free gum can also help clear food from teeth and get saliva flowing, Lazare said.

If a crown or other restoration comes out, "don't panic," he said. "Stop chewing on that side, save any crown or restoration that comes off, and contact your dentist promptly. Never try to reattach it with household glue."

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Anyone experiencing severe pain, swelling or significant bleeding should "seek urgent dental care," he said.

Some restorations may be reusable, depending on their condition.

The main goal, Lazare said, is prevention, a central tenet of his biomimetic approach, which focuses on preserving natural tooth structure for the long term. 

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"We want to prevent damage rather than have to repair it," he said.