In 2020, 148 million consumers planned to celebrate Halloween. As the second-largest commercial holiday in the United States, Halloween is a staple of American culture. Even though you know sugar is bad for your teeth, it’s so hard to resist with the temptation of Halloween candy around every corner. So, how can you make it through the spooky season with all your teeth intact?
How Sugar Harms Teeth
Harmful bacteria that attack tooth enamel feed off the sugar in candy and other sweet foods which can lead to tooth decay. Sugar also lowers your mouth’s pH. The pH scale measures how basic or acidic a substance is. When the pH of plaque drops below 5.5, the acids start to dissolve minerals which can also lead to the destruction of tooth enamel.
Impacts of Different Candies on Your Dental Health
Since you’re unlikely to come across houses giving trick-or-treaters sugar-free xylitol gum and celery sticks, it’s important to know how different types of candy can affect your teeth so you can try to avoid the most harmful ones. Here are a few popular types of candy and what they can do to your dental health.
- Sour candies contain both sugar to feed harmful oral bacteria and highly acidic substances that can eat through tooth enamel
- Hard candy puts you at higher risk for breaking your teeth if you chew on it, and sucking on hard candy means holding the sugary substance in your mouth for an extended period
- Sticky or gummy candy is bad for teeth because it’s hard to remove so it feeds oral bacteria for a longer time than other candies
A Healthier Halloween
Being picky about the candy you eat is one way of reducing the risk of tooth decay. Coming up with a plan can help you map out the best strategies for your teeth. For example, consider giving most of your candy to family or friends. Make sure to drink plenty of water to rinse away sugar from your teeth and limit the amount of candy you eat. Though these tactics may make Halloween seem less fun, there is some good news! Chocolate is the least harmful candy since it doesn’t stick to teeth, and the cocoa has many beneficial properties such as high blood pressure relief and reduced risk of cancer. The darker the chocolate, the less sugar it contains.
Though the Halloween season will eventually come to an end, your responsibility to keep your teeth and your children’s teeth healthy is never done! Make sure to brush and floss your teeth as instructed by your dentist and keep the sugary treats to a minimum to have a healthy, fun, and spooky Halloween!
About the Practice
At Pasadena Family Dentistry, our team strives to provide exceptional dental care to patients of all ages. We offer a high-quality, personalized experience courtesy of Dr. Holmes, Dr. Revel, Dr. Lowery, and the rest of the team. We never pressure you into pursuing treatment you aren’t comfortable with and offer an extensive list of services. By utilizing clinically proven tools and techniques, we ensure successful results. So, what are you waiting for? Reach out to us via phone at (713) 946-5171 to learn more about how to protect your teeth from harm during the Halloween season or visit our website.