If you’re kids are planning to go trick-or-treating this year rather than sit and wait for the Great Pumpkin, here are a few suggestions for keeping their teeth healthy after they come home with bags of candy.
Moderation
As with anything, it’s about moderation. We love candy here at Advanced Dentistry, but we recognize that too much can cause short- and long-term damage. Enjoy a piece or two at a time, but don’t overdo it. In fact, maybe have your kids pick their favorites and donate the rest to troops overseas through organizations like Operation Gratitude.
Choose Candy Carefully
Sticky and hard candies are the most problematic. Sticky candy, like taffy or gummy snacks, stay on the teeth longer and increase the chance of tooth decay. Hard candies can cause cracks or broken teeth that require immediate attention.
Better candies to eat?
· Chocolate, such as candy bars, are not only the most popular candy, they dissolve quickly in the mouth, leaving little time for the sugar to do any negative work. Beware of chocolate with caramel or nuts. They can cause trouble for the same reasons as listed above.
· Believe it or not, powdery candy, such as sugar straws, isn’t as bad for teeth as you might think. Yes it’s pure sugar, but powdery candy dissolves quickly and doesn’t stick to the teeth.
And of course, after eating candy – or any food – don’t forget to floss and brush.
Happy Halloween!
All Smiles,
Dr. Dave and Team