A Halloween Note from Dr. Michele:
With Halloween comes tricks andlots of treat—the sugar in those treats can play some unwanted tricks on your teeth if you’re not careful. The bacteria in your child’s mouth are probably more excited to eat Halloween candy than they are. When the bacteria eat the sugar and leftover food in your mouth, a weak acid is produced. That acid is what can contribute to cavities.
But let’s face it, “Halloween is about candy, dressing up and having fun and “It’s OK to eat that candy on Halloween as a splurge as long as you’re brushing and maintaining a clean mouth.
To help you sort through the trick-or-treat bag loot, we have a rundown of some common candies and their impact on your teeth:
Chocolate
Chocolate is probably your best bet, which is good because it’s also one of the most popular kinds of candy handed out on Halloween. Chocolate is one of the better candies because it washes off your teeth easier than other types of candyDark chocolate also has less sugar than milk chocolate.
Sticky and Gummy Candies
Be picky if it’s sticky. These are some of the worst candies for your teeth. This candy is harder to remove and may stay longer on your teeth, which gives that cavity-causing bacteria more time to work, additionally sticky candies notoriously can pull out fillings and destroy dental work that has already been placed.
Hard Candy
Hard candies are also ones to watch on Halloween. They can actually break your teeth if you’re not careful. You also tend to keep these kinds of candies in your mouth for longer periods of time so the sugar is getting in your saliva and washing over your teeth.”
Sour Candy
You might want to pass on things that make you pucker – especially if they are sticky and coated in sugar. Sour candy is be very acidic which can weaken and damage the enamel of your teeth, making your teeth more vulnerable to cavities.
-Dr. Michele
