It’s that time of year again… all of our little ghost and goblins will be running around, trick- or – treating, and most likely eating more sweets than usual. Sugary treats are a staple to this time of year, whether it is all of the candy they gathered up on their big night, or the extra classroom treats, kids find a way to consume sugar in the excess, and lets face it… so do their parents!
Although abstaining from eating sugar all- together would be the best course of action, we all know that would be no fun! Sticking to some of these basic guidelines should help keep your teeth happy through the spookiest holiday of all time for teeth.
- Avoid extremely “sticky” candies
Things like gummy bears, Skittles, caramels, tootsie rolls, Twizzlers, and taffy that give your jaw one heck of a work out while you chew them are among the biggest culprits in this group! These types of candies find their way into all the little nooks and crannies of your teeth and make themselves right at home! This gives all of the bacteria in your mouth plenty of time and a buffet of sugary treats to create cavities with.
- Avoid incredibly hard candies
In addition to their sugar content, things like jaw breakers, jolly ranchers, and lollipops have a high potential for chipping and damaging teeth, avoiding things that put extra wear and tear on those pearly whites is both smart and will help keep your teeth out of trouble!
- Avoid sour candies
Sour candies are highly acidic and can break down tooth enamel quickly, and unfortunately, sour candies are usually very sticky, leaving them to wreak havoc in your kid’s mouth for quite some time. The good news is that saliva slowly helps to restore the natural balance of the acid in the mouth over time.
If you are going to consume some of these spooky treats anyways, Dr. Brain Kraft recommends brushing within 30 minutes of consumption. Some not-so-scary alternatives to these treats are things like dark chocolate ( with or without nuts) and sugar free candies. Chocolate will not stick to your teeth and even contains antioxidants that have been proven to improve cardio health. Xylitol is a great sugar substitute in candies, but be careful with it around your furry family members, it is toxic for dogs.
From our family to yours, we hope you stay safe and enjoy the start of the holiday season!