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We will let you in on a little secret…dentists eat candy too! However, not all sugar is created equally. Before you gobble up all the sweet treats this Halloween, take a look at our expert tips on what to eat and what to avoid.
We will let you in on a little secret…dentists eat candy too! However, not all sugar is created equally. Before you gobble up all the sweet treats this Halloween, take a look at our expert tips on what to eat and what to avoid. Your teeth will thank you!
Enjoy These Fang-tastic Treats
Dark Chocolate
Keep it spooky with dark chocolate, which is by far the best candy option when it comes to your pearly whites! We love this indulgent treat for many reasons. It has less sugar than other chocolates and candies, and recent studies suggest there is a compound in cocoa that can actually fight plaque and help harden tooth enamel.
Reese’s Cups & Candy Bars with Nuts
It’s hard to Reese-ist a chocolate peanut butter cup, and the good news is you don’t have to! Peanut butter and chocolate both melt away fairly quickly instead of hanging around on your teeth. You should also load up on candy bars with nuts, like Hershey’s Chocolate with Almonds. Not only are nuts a great source of protein and fiber, but they can also break up the sticky ingredients in your candy that lead to cavities.
Sugar-Free Treats
Sugar-free gum and candies are good alternatives to regular sugary options. Sugar feeds bacteria in the mouth, but sugar-free treats disrupt that system. Sugar-free gum has also been proven to help prevent cavities.
Avoid These Tricky Treats
Sticky Candies
The stickier the candy, the worse they are for your teeth! Sticky candy attaches to your teeth and can cause enamel to break down, which increases your risk of developing cavities…eek! Gummies, Tootsie Rolls, taffy, caramels and even dried fruit fall into this category.
Hard Candies
Hard candies—including lollipops, Jolly Ranchers and Life Savers—are just a continued stream of sugar to your teeth! This amount of sugar, and the time it takes to dissolve it, can break down your teeth enamel. Stay far, far away…they’ll end up being a real pain in the neck.
Sour Candies
The acid in sour candy can cause a bat-load of damage to your teeth. Acid can break down your enamel, causing cavities and yellow teeth. Ick! Avoid sour candies or consume them in moderation.
Tips to Lessen the Damage
We know from personal experience that a “sweet tooth” can be very stubborn – especially at Halloween! If you fall victim to some of the tricky treats listed above, we’ve got a few tips to lessen the damage.
Timing
Eat your Halloween candy with your meals. Saliva production is increased which helps clean your mouth while causing candy particles and acid to have a more difficult time sticking to your teeth.
Water
Drinking fluoridated water can help prevent tooth decay. This will help combat your Halloween candy damage, so drink up!
Brush
It is important to brush your teeth, especially after eating sugary Halloween candy. However, you should wait 30 minutes after eating. Brushing your teeth immediately can spread the acid from candy onto more teeth.
Dentist
Don’t forget to visit your dentist! Regular visits to the dentist can prevent problems later down the road and help you maintain good oral health year-round. Let a healthy mouth be a Halloween treat this year! Call us today to schedule an appointment, or book online.
Happy Halloween from Leap Kids Dental!
