Tips for Surviving The Candy Rush
Learn how to prevent candy cavities with Swish Dental's dental tips. Protect your teeth from the candy rush and keep them healthy with the following tips!
Learn how to prevent candy cavities with Swish Dental's dental tips. Protect your teeth from the candy rush and keep them healthy with the following tips!
Halloween is, without a doubt, one of the most anticipated holidays of the year. People of all ages look forward to dressing up for costume parties and to go Trick-or-Treating. The enticement of some of America’s favorite treats can be both a blessing and a curse. Although this year many of the traditional activities may be slightly altered, one thing won’t change. LOTS OF CANDY will be consumed!
Whether it’s the combination of chocolate and peanut butter of a Reeses Peanut Butter Cup, the tart little dummies of Sour Patch Kids, or the classic Candy Corn, everyone can’t wait to sink their teeth into their favorite sugar-filled treat.
Regardless of how excited you are for your favorite sweet treat, the bacteria in your mouth are probably more excited to eat Halloween candy than you are. When the bacteria eat the sugar and food remnants in your mouth, a weak acid is produced. This acid is what can contribute to cavities.
But ADA dentist Dr. Ana Paula Ferraz-Dougherty said “It’s OK to eat that candy on Halloween as a splurge as long as you’re brushing twice a day and flossing once a day all year long.” So it is ok to live a little if you are taking the right steps and preventative care to maintain a healthy mouth.
To help you select the best treats to munch on, we’ve created a rundown of some common candies and their impact on your teeth:
Chocolate, aside from being one of the most popular kinds of candy passed out during Halloween, is probably the best one as well. While dark chocolate generally contains less sugar than milk chocolate, this delicious candy is also one that is easiest to wash off of your teeth as well.
Sticky candies are some the worst you can eat. The stickiness generally has a lot more sugar and is harder to wash off of your teeth. The longer it stays in your mouth the worse it is for your teeth which gives the cavity causing bacteria more time to create problems.
Hard candies are also ones to watch for on Halloween. People generally have these types of candies in their mouth for longer periods of time so your teeth are sitting in sugary saliva. Also, many people tend to bit and chew on hard candies which can break teeth.
Sour candy, besides having a lot of sugar tend to have a lot of enamel weakening acid as well. This is a bad combination that can greatly increase your chances of getting cavities.
We can still enjoy Halloween and partake in dressing up and indulging in our favorite treats while at the same time be proactive about protecting our teeth. It is not hard to use mouth rinse, floss and brush your teeth a little more frequently when you are out and about. Be intentional about taking care of your teeth and you can enjoy all of the traditions you always have.
At Swish Dental we are always here to promote you and your smile. From General Dentistry, Family Dentistry, Cosmetic Dentistry, to Invisalign and Sleep Apnea Treatment, making you smile is what makes us smile. We’d love to walk with you on your dental journey today!
