West Maitland Dentistry Blog

Halloween is quickly approaching and you may be wondering if there is a way to eat candy and still keep your mouth healthy.  According to The Economics Times, the average American consumes 3.4 pounds of candy on Halloween.  That’s a lot of sugar!  This year don’t trick or treat without reading about the best and worst candy for your mouth.

The Bad Treats

Sticky

Sticky candies get stuck in the little grooves in teeth.  These types of candies are harder to remove since the grooves of the teeth are very fine.  Also since they stick to the teeth they stay in the mouth long after the treat is swallowed.  This allows more time for the cavity causing bacteria in your mouth to feed on the sugar.

Hard

Chewing on hard candies can crack your teeth.  Just like sticky candies, sucking on hard candies allows more time for the sugar to hang around your mouth.

Sour Candy

Sour candies tend to contain acidic ingredients.  Too much acid in your mouth can lead to enamel demineralizing or eroding of the enamel.  Also the cavity causing bacteria in your mouth thrive in acidic conditions.

The Good Treats

Xylitol

Xylitol is a type of sugar that the bacteria in your mouth cannot digest.  Chewing on xylitol gum can help stimulate your saliva glands as well as help pick up any sticky pieces of candy or food from the crevices in your molars.

Nuts

Finding candy with nuts can break up the amount of sugar you are eating.  These types of candies also tend to be less sticky and less sugary than the sticky, hard types.  Remember to avoid these though if you have a nut allergy or wear braces.

Dark Chocolate

When sorting through the Halloween candy this year, try to choose dark chocolate over the sticky, hard, sour candies.  Although chocolate does have sugar in it, the consistency of it tends to not last as long in your teeth or get stuck as much in the teeth’s grooves.

Dark chocolate is a great option due to having less sugar and containing polyphenols that help decrease the cavity causing bacteria in your mouth.

The Tricks

If you are eating candy, try eating it with a meal.  Also try to limit snacking on candy throughout the day and opt for eating it in one sitting.

Also, wait 30 minutes before brushing your teeth after eating anything sugary or acidic.  This is because the acid produced by the sugar eating bacteria can start softening your enamel, the hard outer layer of your tooth.  Waiting 30 minutes allows the enamel to harden back and lessens any damage done by brushing.

Instead try drinking a lot of water to get rid of the acid and chew on sugar free gum that is sweetened with xylitol.

If you are more interested in learning about healthier foods check out our previous blog on foods that are good for your mouth.  We hope these best and worst candy list will help make figuring out which treats to eat a lot easier!

Summer is upon us and in the midst of vacations and different schedules dental care is sometimes last on our mind.  We have 5 dental tips for the summer to ensure that your oral health is on track!

Drink Plenty of Water

This may seem like a no brainer but dehydration is common during these hot months.  Dehydration can lead to dry mouth.  Not having enough saliva in your mouth increases your chances of getting a cavity.  For more information about the effects of dry mouth check out the American Dental Association’s website.

Limit Sugary Drinks and Foods

Nothing beats an ice cream cone or popsicle on a hot summer day but make sure to limit sugary or acidic treats.  If eating something sugary try drinking water afterwards to rinse off the sugar.  After eating or drinking anything acidic wait 30 minutes before brushing so that you don’t brush off the weakened enamel. Drinking water, brushing and flossing after a sugary meal decreases chances of developing cavities.

Stick with Your Routine

Another dental summer tip is sticking to your routine. Vacations often disrupt normal day to day routines.  Make sure that you keep your and your children’s oral health routines. This includes brushing twice a day for two minutes, flossing regularly and visiting your dentist routinely.

Protect Your Lips

Part of your oral health is taking care of your lips.  Too much sun exposure can increase your chances of skin cancer.  Decrease your chances of developing skin cancer with the use of a lip balm with sunscreen, avoid the sun and visit your dentist routinely for an oral cancer screening.

Make Your Back to School Appointment

With the busy end to the summer and getting prepared for the beginning of the school year it can be easy to overlook the kids six month check ups.  Be sure to schedule your child’s appointment early to ensure the kids have a clean bill of oral health for the school year.

Follow these dental tips to make sure your mouth remains healthy over the summer!