It’s only a little more than a month until Halloween. Candy and Costumes fill the shelves. Eveyone is so excited, except your dentist!halloween-candy-by-phanton-kitty
Trick-or-treating’s candy haul is pretty much a dentistry fright fest. But are some sweets worse than others for your teeth? Here is a list from us of the worst and best treats!
WORST: Taffy and candies filled with caramel, coconut, or nuts are the worst kinds of candy for teeth because they stick to everything inside of your mouth, including the grooves of your teeth. The longer a food sticks to your teeth, the longer bacteria can feed on it–which could produce cavity causing acids.
NEXT WORST: Hard candy like lollipops or jawbreakers, are almost as bad. Although they do not stick to your teeth, they take a long time to dissolve. Not to mention the risk of breaking a tooth biting into a hard piece.
BAD: Sour candy is also bad for your teeth due to it’s higher acid content, which can break down tooth enamel. While powdery candy such as Pixie Stix dissolve quickly in the mouth and don’t require chewing, they contain nothing but sugar and can lead to cavities.
NOT SO BAD: Chocolate, with no sticky fillings, will generally not stick to your teeth and therefore is a much better option if you’re craving something sweet.ice-breakers-cubes-gum-35441
BEST: Sugar-free gum may be the best treat this Halloween season because it leaves no sticky residue, and it is sweetened with xylitol–a natural sugar that bacteria is unable to form plaque on.
Which kind of candy are you giving out this year?
