There is something about the spooky, bite-sized Halloween packaging that makes you want to gobble up your favorite Halloween candies by the dozens. While we can’t speak for what this will do to your waistline, we can let you know the many ways that too much candy is not good for your teeth. Here are some of the best and worst Halloween candies for your oral health – and best practices for satisfying your sweet tooth without wreaking havoc on your teeth.
Worst Halloween Candy for Teeth
- Hard candy: Hard candy takes a long time to eat, and when a lollipop or jawbreaker is in your mouth it’s bathing your teeth in sugar. This overexposure can lead to cavities, especially if you indulge hour after hour. Biting down on a piece of hard candy to speed up the eating of it can also lead to dental disaster, including broken teeth, damaged fillings, or broken crowns.
- Chewy candy: Caramel, taffy, and any chewy candy is designed to be sticky – and that means it sticks to your teeth. If you can’t say no to your faves, be sure to floss and brush as soon as possible after eating to get rid of all traces of this dangerous stuff.
- Candy apples: Don’t be fooled by candy apples. Yes, it’s a fruit, but it’s a fruit that’s covered with caramel or solidified candy coating. These applications can do a number on your tooth enamel if you bite right into the treat.
Best Halloween Candy for Your Oral Health
The safest, best kind of candy for teeth is pure chocolate. Chocolate is soft and melts quickly, which means it doesn’t linger on tooth enamel and do your teeth harm. Just be careful if you’re indulging in nutty or caramel-stuffed chocolate because those sweets can do their own damage. If you need salty and sweet together, stick to peanut butter cups or peppermint patties, which are soft (and delicious).
Best Practices for Eating Halloween Candy
- Eat all your candy in one sitting: Instead of snacking on a piece of candy here and there throughout the day, creating a near-constant exposure to sugar, get your candy fix in one sitting and enjoy a few pieces at one time.
- Eat candy with a meal: At mealtime, the saliva is flowing, and your mouth is working overtime to clean away food particles and bacteria. Take advantage of this time and sneak in that candy you’re craving.
- Clean up: If you can’t brush and floss immediately after indulging in your favorite Halloween candy, at least rinse your mouth with water to try and swish away the sugars and bacteria that want to cling to your teeth.
Take Care of Your Oral Health
If you’re conscientious about your Halloween candy-eating, you won’t find yourself having to make an appointment with your Fort Lauderdale dentist come November 1 to deal with tooth pain or damaged crowns or fillings. Indulge wisely to persevere your oral health and you will have a Happy Halloween. Then schedule your next dental cleaning and exam with Dr. Charmaine Johnson at Premier Smile Center.
