With Halloween fast approaching, most kids (and some parents!) do not consider the dental implications to the candy consumption that will go on on around Halloween. Those sweets don’t just
Happy Halloween!
take a toll on your waistline, they can also damage your teeth. These treats can put your teeth at risk very quickly if proper dental hygiene is not maintained. This is not to say you and your children should not enjoy Halloween but there needs to be some thought to maintaining your teeth during Halloween time.
Top 5 Worst Halloween Candies for your Teeth
1. Gummy Bears, fruit gummies. Not only are gummy bears a candy that is sticky and tends to linger in the mouth it is pure sugar. A single serving of gummy bears contains about 30 grams of sugar. This equals to about 8 teaspoons of pure sugar sticking to your teeth and in between them. Worse are sour gummies wish also have a high amount of acid added for their sour flavor. Dental tip: Avoid gummies on Halloween and the rest of the year as well.
2. Starburst Chews. This taffy like candy has about 22 grams of sugar per serving (about 9 pieces). Starburst candy is another sticky candy that will stick to your teeth and linger unless removed. The sugar will be fed on by the bacteria in the mouth which in turn produce the acids that cause tooth decay.
Halloween Candy Tootsie Rolls
3. Tootsie Rolls. Another candy with a high sugar count, tootsie rolls are so sticky that the candy can pull out dental work like a crown or filling when you bite into them. Tootsie rolls, like all sticky candies, get stuck in between teeth which prolongs the exposure to sugar in your mouth. This increases your risk of tooth decay.
4. Gobstoppers, jawbreakers. Gobstoppers claim to fame on this list is not from its sugar content. While still quite high at 14 grams of sugar per serving, gobstoppers are bad because they take so long to consume, and most people bite into them to crack them as they get smaller. This leaves your teeth exposed to the sugar content longer than the other candies on the list, and makes it easier to fracture a tooth.
5. Blow Pops. The effect these have on your teeth is very similar to the Gobstoppers. They are in your mouth for a very long time and then you get a sugary gum to chew on the inside, these are also bitten into, but usually with front teeth. Double whammy!
Tips to Avoid Tooth Decay
We all know Halloween candy will be consumed and it is a time to enjoy that freedom. But everything must come in moderation. If you choose to indulge in the candy for Halloween, please
Have a Safe, Happy Halloween!
follow these simple steps to avoid tooth decay:
1. Rinse with water immediately following eating Halloween candy
2. Brush and floss immediately after ingesting Halloween candy.
3. Consume your allowed portion of candy once per day, perhaps after dinner, and be sure to follow proper oral hygiene after. Eating candy a little bit at a time all day, is much worse because, it keeps sugar and acid levels high all day long, giving bacteria ample ability to break down teeth.
4. Don’t bite hard candy, allow it to soften in your mouth. Lollipops and hard candies don’t need to be finished, they can be re wrapped and saved for tomorrow.
Halloween can be fun for the whole family just follow the steps outlined above for a safe, fun holiday!
