Yes, parents, Halloween isn’t far away and the time for candy overload is just around the corner. While we here at Weninger Dentistry love to see you and your children in the office, we would rather it be for another ‘good-news’ dental exam than see the result of choosing too much of the wrong kind of treats.
We know that candy consumption is practically unavoidable this time of year. However, the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) reminds parents that all candy options are not necessarily bad.
Cynthia Sherwood, DDS, FAGD of the Academy says, “Of course, dentists do not advocate that children eat large amounts of sugary treats, but it is that time of year, so we want to clarify for parents which treats are better for their kids’ teeth and which ones may increase the risk of developing cavities.”
Halloween is also a perfect time to replace children’s toothbrushes and spend time going over with them what good oral health care is all about. Your kids should brush twice a day for two minutes and floss once a day. Here are some of the best and worst kinds of candy to be aware of this holiday season.
Best
Sugar-free hard candies and lollipops – These are great because they help to prevent dry mouth by stimulating saliva. A dry mouth leads to plaque building up on teeth, which in turn leads to an increased risk of cavities.
Dark chocolate – The antioxidants in dark (not milk) chocolate can be good for the heart and even lower blood pressure.
Sugar-free gum – May serve to prevent cavities because chewing gum stimulates saliva and dislodges food particles from between teeth.
Worst
High sugar snacks – These include cookies, cake, and candy corn. High amounts of sugar can cause tooth decay.
Sticky/chewy sweets – These include taffy, gummy candy, and some kinds of dried fruit which can lodge between teeth.
Sour candies – The ingredients in sour candies are highly acidic and can break down tooth enamel very quickly. Dental experts recommend waiting 3o minutes after consuming acidic candies to brush, to avoid spreading acidic substance to more tooth surfaces.
“Parents should closely monitor their children’s candy intake this Halloween—and all year round—and continue to promote good oral health habits,” Dr. Sherwood says. “Kids also should be brushing their teeth twice a day for two minutes.”
The Good News
Some Halloween treats are actually good for your children’s teeth. Sugar-free lollipops and hard candies stimulate the production of saliva and therefore help offset the effects of candies that cause dry mouth.
It is better to be with your children when they go trick-or-treating to ensure their safety and enforce a specific time to eat their treasure trove of candy. Candy eaten over a long period of time allows for more chance of tooth decay.
We hope your kids have a great Halloween and remember – Don’t give those scary cavities a chance to haunt their mouth.