Halloween comes around every year to remind us about the fun side of all things spooky, scary, and disturbing. However, the ghoulish abundance of candy thrown around does cause some concern among the dental community. Here are a few tips from your dentist to keep this season of freakishly fun frights from leading to dental emergencies down the road.
Be Picky with Your Candy
Some candies are worse for your teeth than others. Sticky, chewy sweets like taffy, caramel, gummies, and the like have a way of stubbornly clinging to your teeth and getting wedged into their various nooks and crannies. This can provide cavity- and gum disease-causing bacteria with a protected breeding habitat. On the other hand, hard candies such as butterscotch discs and jawbreakers can chip or crack teeth if you bite too hard on them. To make matters worse, hard candies are designed to dissolve in the mouth, covering the teeth in a sweet, sticky, bacteria-feeding residue.
The good news is that chocolate is actually among the most tooth-friendly forms of candy because it doesn’t stick to your teeth and isn’t so hard that it can break them. Dark chocolate is best because it is low in sugar and high in antioxidants.
Munch in Moderation
Some times are better for eating candy than others. Meals are actually the best time to consume candy because eating nutritious foods promotes saliva flow that helps clean teeth and neutralize acid. Eating crisp fruits and vegetables like apples, carrots, and celery can safely help scrape the teeth clean without injuring the enamel, so having something like that after eating candy can prevent a lot of damage. Be sure to drink plenty of water, as this will help you maintain healthy saliva flow while also washing away sugary residues and food debris from your teeth.
You Don’t Have to Hand Out Candy
There will be plenty of houses handing out all sorts of candies, so why not do something different at yours? Try handing out teeth-friendly items like small toys, spider rings, sugar-free gum, stickers, or festively designed school supplies like pens, pencils, or erasers. This can be especially fun for children with medical conditions that prohibit them from having candy such as diabetes.
Halloween may be scary, but that doesn’t mean your teeth have to be. By being smart when making Halloween candy decisions, you can be sure that your fun night of tricks and treats doesn’t lead to dental disaster later.
About the Author
Dr. Stacy Goodwill pursued her Doctor of Dental Surgery at the University of Nebraska College of Dentistry and completed an Advanced Education in General Dentistry post-graduate program with the Navy. She serves as a member of the American Dental Association, the North Dakota Dental Association, and the International Dental Implant Association. Her office in Fargo, ND offers general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry. For more information on having a teeth-safe Halloween, contact her office online or dial (701) 237-3583.