The 3 Worst Kinds of Candy for Your Teeth
Just the mention of Halloween and trick-or-treating is enough to send chills down any dentist’s spine. Why do we find Halloween so scary? The candy of course. Halloween candy is not only laden with sugar but it’s also enjoyed abundantly during the season, which means all of our teeth are at risk of tooth decay and their gums are in danger of periodontal disease.
Some candy, however, is worse than others.
Top 3 Types of Candy to Avoid This Halloween
1. Sticky Candy
Any candy that is sticky (taffy, starbursts, skittles, gummies, or licorice) clings to the tooth enamel. This effectively leaves a feast of sugar for harmful bacteria right on the delicate surface of your teeth. As a result, bacteria proliferate and they produce copious amounts of acid that weaken your tooth enamel, leading to decay and cavities.
2. Hard Candy
When you finish eating a piece of candy, your body naturally produces saliva that helps to clean the teeth and remineralize your tooth enamel. The more time you spend eating candy, however, the more time the bacteria in your mouth are actively feasting and producing acid. So, hard candies, like lollipops, that you need to suck on for a long time to finish eating result in a longer period of exposure to acid. So, although they aren’t necessarily sticky, hard candies are one of the worst sweet treats you can eat because they extend the amount of time that your tooth enamel is getting weakened.
3. Sour Candy
Sour candies taste sour because they are highly acidic. They also contain a lot of sugar. This means you’re not only introducing sugar into your mouth that will fuel acid-producing bacteria, but you’re also introducing acid into your mouth. This causes two-fold tooth decay. Plus, many sour candies are also sticky or hard which further worsens the problem.
Schedule a Post-Halloween Dental Exam and Cleaning in Kenmore
Of course, you can still enjoy Halloween treats while caring for your teeth. Limit the amount of candy your child eats each day and the amount of time they spend eating it. Be sure to rinse with water immediately after and wait 30 minutes before brushing your teeth. Then schedule a post-holiday dental exam and cleaning at Kenmore Pediatric Dentistry.
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