The Best and Worst Halloween Candy for your Oral Health

The WORST Halloween Candy

The worst Halloween candy in terms of your oral health is sticky treats. For example, gummy snacks, taffy, caramel, and other gooey candy that sticks to your teeth. Sticky candy can easily find its way into tooth crevices, which can be challenging to remove with a toothbrush or floss. Our Jeffersonville family dentists explain that the longer the exposure of sugar to your teeth, the more damage bacteria can create. Therefore, sticky treats should be a once in awhile indulgence to protect your oral health.

The BEST Halloween Candy

The best Halloween candy you can consume for your oral health is chocolate. For example, chocolate kisses, bars, chips, and drizzles are better for your teeth than sticky candy. Chocolate melts and easily washes off your teeth, reducing bacterial activity because of less sugar exposure. However, our Louisville family dentists explain that dark chocolate contains the lowest amount of sugar and compounds that can strengthen tooth enamel and fight plaque. Therefore, when you grab a Halloween treat, opt for a chocolate bar instead of a molasses chew.

How long does it take for sugar to damage teeth?

Within 20 seconds of eating sugar, bacteria in your mouth begin feeding on the sugar and excrete acid that starts to damage your teeth. Over time, the acid wears away at tooth enamel layers, eventually resulting in a cavity. Our Shepherdsville family dentists warn that the longer you expose your teeth to sugar, the more damage can occur. For instance, eating candy early in the day and not brushing your teeth before bed allows sugar and bacteria to damage tooth enamel slowly. However, consuming candy and then brushing your teeth within a few hours helps reduce your risk of tooth damage. Although there are candy varieties with natural sugar, natural sugars still affect your mouth the same way. Therefore, our dentists recommend sugar-free candy when you choose to snack during Halloween.

Should I brush my teeth after eating sugar?

In short, yes. However, wait to brush your teeth for 30-60 minutes after eating sweets. When you brush too soon after eating sugary or acidic foods, you can damage the enamel. After you eat, the acids will continue to attack your tooth enamel until you brush. Therefore, our dentists in Jeffersonville recommend rinsing your mouth with water immediately after eating sugar to slow the bacterial process by reducing residual sugar in your mouth. Then, brush and floss to r move hidden sugars between your teeth and around your gums. In some cases, you may not be able to brush your teeth, so rinse with water first, then use mouthwash to kill the bacteria.

Family Dentists in Jeffersonville, Indiana, and Louisville and Shepherdsville, Kentucky

Halloween is a favorite time of year for kids and candy lovers. However, it’s important to exercise caution regarding your oral health when consuming holiday sweets. Even though sticky candy is the worst and chocolate is the best, both treats contain sugars that can cause significant damage to your oral health when consumed frequently. Therefore, we recommend eating Halloween treats in moderation, so they don’t cause tricks on your oral health. Additionally, with an at-home oral hygiene regimen and regularly visiting our Louisville dental office for checkups and cleanings, you can reduce the impact Halloween candy has on your smile. Please call Exceptional Dentistry at (502) 423-7868 or contact us online to schedule an appointment.