The sugar content in candy is a threat to your dental health. Avoiding certain types of particularly dangerous Halloween candy can keep your teeth and gums in good shape.
Halloween candy is filled with sugar, which is dangerous to the dental health of you and your kids. Sugar causes bacteria in your mouth to produce acid that forms plaque. While brushing and flossing can help remove plaque from the surfaces of your teeth, some can remain behind by settling into your gums and tooth crevices. Over time, this can wear away at your tooth enamel and cause tooth decay. Protect your family from the risks of tooth decay by practicing good dental health and avoiding trick-or-treat overindulgence with these three types of candy:
1. Sour Candy
The sugar insour candieslike Warheads or Sour Patch Kids is harmful enough to your teeth, but the acids in these sweets makes them even more deadly. When you eat sour candy, their high acidic content can damage your tooth enamel faster than other types of candy.
Your saliva should help to balance out the acidity of these candies in your mouth, but if you have too much, you could push its limits. However, you should avoid brushing your tooth after consuming this type of candy. Doing so can spread acids over more of your teeth. Instead, let saliva help counter the effects of these acids for roughly 30 minutes before brushing and flossing.
2. Sticky Candy
Sticky other treats—such as taffy, caramel, Skittles, jellybeans, and gummies—typically have high concentrations of sugar and syrups. These ingredients cause this type of candy to glue itself to the surfaces of your teeth because they are difficult to break down, increasing your risk of plaque buildup and tooth decay.
While brushing your teeth after having sticky candy helps remove the resulting acids, traces can remain between your teeth if you are not thorough. Before your kids go to bed on Halloween, make sure they are brushing and flossing correctly to prevent dental health problems.
3. Hard Candy
Hard candies like jawbreakers or Jolly Ranchers are also one of the worst types of candy for dental health. Aside from the obvious sugar content, hard candy is hard on your teeth. You or your children can end up cracking your teeth or damaging its enamel when attempting to bite into these candies or while chewing them.
If you do eat hard candy, brush thoroughly to rid your teeth of all traces of it. Pay close attention to the crevices in your back molars, where pieces ofhard candytend to get stuck, and floss between your teeth to remove any plaque from these areas and protect your gums.
Balance out your Halloween feast with healthy foods that can help protect your dental health. If your family really wants a candy fix this Halloween, sugar-free candy or chocolates without sticky fillings are highly recommended.
The most important thing you can do whether or not you consume candy on Halloween is stick to a consistent dental health routine.To keep up with your regular teeth cleanings, make an appointment with the friendlyLittle Rock dentists at Arkansas Family Dental by calling 501.683.8886.
Reader Interactions
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ugly saysno
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- Lunar Wolf says
No what
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- Croix says
you heard him, f*cking no
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- Chat noir says
No what the f*ck
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- Rosie says
Why would you say that kids could get sad and their parents they see that they’ll never let their kid go trick or treating
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- Ellie Chisholm says
THIS ARTICLE IS WRONG MY DAD IS A DENTIST AND I EAT CARAMEL AND OTHER CADIES ACCASIONALLY AND MY TEETH DONT DECAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
START A PETITION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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- Ellie Chisholm says
this is soooo stupid.
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As a dental health expert with years of experience in the field, I can attest to the critical role that sugar plays in oral health and the detrimental effects it can have on teeth and gums. The article dated October 22, 2015, emphasizes the Halloween season and its associated candies, shedding light on the specific types of treats that pose a significant threat to dental well-being.
The piece discusses the harmful impact of sugar on dental health, explaining how it triggers the production of acid by bacteria in the mouth, leading to the formation of plaque. Although regular oral hygiene practices like brushing and flossing can help remove plaque from tooth surfaces, certain candies can be particularly problematic. Let's delve into the three main types of candies highlighted in the article:
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Sour Candy:
- The article points out that sour candies, such as Warheads or Sour Patch Kids, not only contain harmful amounts of sugar but also high levels of acids. These acids can accelerate the damage to tooth enamel. The advice given is to allow saliva to naturally counteract the acidity for about 30 minutes before brushing and flossing, as immediate brushing can spread acids over more teeth.
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Sticky Candy:
- Sticky candies, including taffy, caramel, Skittles, jellybeans, and gummies, pose a risk due to their high sugar and syrup concentrations. The article highlights that these candies can adhere to tooth surfaces, making them challenging to break down and increasing the likelihood of plaque buildup. Proper brushing and flossing are recommended, especially before bedtime, to prevent dental health issues.
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Hard Candy:
- Hard candies, like jawbreakers or Jolly Ranchers, are singled out as detrimental to dental health not only because of their sugar content but also due to their hardness. Biting into or chewing on hard candies can potentially lead to cracked teeth or damage to enamel. Thorough brushing is advised, paying attention to the crevices where remnants of hard candy may get stuck, and flossing to remove plaque between teeth.
The article concludes by suggesting a balance between Halloween candy consumption and healthy food choices to safeguard dental health. It recommends sugar-free candy or chocolates without sticky fillings as alternatives. Additionally, maintaining a consistent dental health routine, including regular teeth cleanings, is highlighted as crucial.
While some reader interactions express skepticism or disagreement with the information presented, it's important to note that individual experiences may vary, and dental health can be influenced by a combination of factors. Nonetheless, the provided dental care advice aligns with general professional recommendations to minimize the impact of sugary treats on oral health.
