Surviving Leftover Halloween Candy

It’s a fact that Halloween treats play tricks on your teeth! While it’s no doubt a fun holiday – especially for kids – it’s important to remember to eat those peanut butter chocolates and gummies in moderation. That mouth-watering candy may be irresistible for the taste buds, but the bacteria that’s left in your mouth after a candy binge session may have you howling with a toothache next month.

Put a post-Halloween plan in place to keep those pearly whites in their best shape. Part of that plan should include a visit to the dentist for a cleaning in Studio City. Before you dive into your kids’ remaining Halloween candy, check out this list of common candies and their negative impact on teeth.

Hard Candy

Hard candy does a number on your teeth, causing hairline cracks in your enamel. On top of that, this type of candy tends to linger in your mouth, leading to cavities down the road. Stay away from the hard candy – you’re basically bathing your teeth in sugar while feeding the harmful bacteria!

Sour Candy

The acidity in sour candy weakens tooth enamel, making it more likely to fall victim to decay. That’s why you should either pass on the sour candy or brush and rinse afterwards.

Chocolate

If you had to choose a lesser of two evils, chocolate would be your best bet over hard or sticky candies. However, that doesn’t mean it’s not harmful because it still has lots of sugar and will stick to the teeth.

Sticky and Gummy Candies

These are some of the worst offenders when it comes to candy and your oral health. They’re super hard to remove and can stay stuck in the teeth for hours, giving cavity-causing bacteria even more time to perform its dirty work.

Popcorn Balls

Popcorn is a traditional Halloween treat, but those kernels get stuck between your teeth. After enjoying a popcorn ball, brush and floss. Flossing is just as important as brushing because it is vital to protect our gum health too.

Taffy and Caramels

Because they are so sticky, these treats are very difficult to remove from teeth. They get caught between the grooves and fissures, leading the way to prolonged contact with sugars on your teeth. Bacteria will use these destructive sugars as fuel, causing cavities and plaque build-up. In addition to candy forms of taffy and caramel, stay away from caramel apples. The hardened sugar shell can cause a crack in your tooth, while the gooey caramel that encases an apple is just as bad as its candy counterpart. Ditch the coating and eat the apple by itself. Your teeth will thank you for it later.

Contact Studio City Dental Center

If your six-month dental appointment falls right after Halloween, you’re lucky. You can get a full cleaning after eating all those candies just in time for the holiday season! To schedule your appointment, contact us at 818-762-2977.