5 Ways to Avoid Halloween Cavities
October 10, 2022 9:07 pmEvery year at the end of October, Halloween comes along offering many sweet treats. How do you keep your smile healthy this year? Here are five ways to avoid cavities around Halloween:
1. Be Careful of Hard Candy
Hard candy can be risky for a few reasons, the first being if you bite down too hard, you can crack your teeth. Hard candies also keep sugar in your mouth for a long time. As you suck on a piece of hard candy, the sugar mixes with your saliva and coats your teeth. If you love hard candy, look for kinds that use sweeteners like stevia.
2. Avoid Sticky Candy
Treats like gummies, Tootsie Rolls, and taffy get stuck in your teeth and can be hard to remove. The longer sugary foods are in your mouth, the more likely they are to cause problems. This Halloween, avoid sticky candy if you’re worried about cavities.
3. Don’t Eat Sour Candy
Sour candies are some of the worst treats for your teeth because they combine sugar and acid. Cavity-causing bacteria already love sugar, but the acid of the sour flavoring also chews into your tooth enamel. Weakened tooth enamel is much more vulnerable to decay.
4. Dark Chocolate Is the Best Halloween candy
If you want to indulge in sweets this year, dark chocolate is the best bet for your teeth. It doesn’t have as much sugar as milk chocolate and isn’t sticky like many candies. Don’t like the bitterness of dark chocolate? Milk chocolate and ruby chocolate have more sugar, but they are usually a better choice than white chocolate or other candy.
5. Wait 30-60 Minutes After Eating Candy to Brush Your Teeth
Avoiding most Halloween candy is the best way to prevent cavities, but if you do enjoy some this year, it’s very important to brush your teeth afterward. Be sure to wait 30-60 minutes after eating. If you brush immediately afterward, you actually increase your cavity risk because sugar softens your enamel. You can rinse your mouth with water but wait to brush your teeth.
Protect Your Smile at Wedington Family Dental in Fayetteville, AR
Halloween can be a challenging time as you’re surrounded by lots of sweets, but you can still enjoy the holiday by avoiding certain candies (hard, sticky, and sour) and choosing better options like dark chocolate. Healthy eating, consistent oral hygiene, and routine cleanings and exams keep your teeth strong and cavity-free! If you have any questions or want to schedule an appointment with Dr. Beauchamp, please contact us today.
