Halloween Candy Tips

Halloween is fun for many reasons, and one of them is all the sweets that come out during this holiday season. Did you know that there are some candies that are less damaging to your teeth than others? While our dentists would tell you that no candy is better than any at all, we created a list below of what is considered both less damaging and the most damaging for your teeth.

• Starting off with one of the less damaging candies for your teeth, chocolate is the first on the list. It is easier to wash away with water, which means it spends less time on your teeth. The less time sugar spends on your teeth, the better. 
• The second choice is sugar-free candy. Did you know that sugar stimulates bacteria growth in the mouth? By avoiding large amounts of sugar, it helps keep your teeth healthier.
• The final sweet is any candy with nuts. Many sweets can stick to your teeth, causing tooth decay to possibly form. When candy has nuts in it, it helps break up the candy that would typically stick to your teeth.

Now that you know some of the candies that are less harmful for your teeth, let’s talk about the candies you should completely avoid.

• The first candy to stay away from is anything sticky. This could be taffies or gummy candies. Gummy candies can wear down your tooth enamel which can cause tooth decay. 
• The second most harmful to have is hard candy. As you keep the hard candy in your mouth, it causes the sugar to mix with your saliva and it then covers your teeth. By sucking on hard candy, it exposes your teeth to sugar for an extended period of time which can cause harmful bacteria to form in your mouth.
• The final harmful sweet on our list is sour candy. Sour candies are acidic, which can break down your tooth enamel and cause not only tooth decay, but also weaken your teeth over time and cause them to chip easier. 

The holidays can still be enjoyed by eating some of your favorite sweets. Of course, follow up with a good oral hygiene routine by brushing with a fluoride toothpaste and flossing, and make sure you are going to the dentist every 6 months for a cleaning. Happy Halloween from all of us at Park Dental!