Trick Or Treat, Best And Worst Halloween Candy For Your Teeth

It’s that time of year again when the kids dress up and go out for trick-or-treating. Your children may be excited, but your dentist is not so much. Although Dr. Austria loves this time of year, many patients complain about sore teeth, especially after Halloween.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. This year, you can actually have a great Halloween and still have fun while maintaining a great smile. If you’ve been feeling a little bit more sensitive teeth or if you’re in pain in the mouth, chances are you might be eating too much sugar.

Healthy teeth are essential, and Dr. Austria wants to educate you on the best and worst candy for your teeth because everyone knows that sugar can cause cavities.

The worst candy for your teeth is taffy, such as salt water taffy, Laffy Taffy, or anything that sticks, coconut, and caramel. These are usually the worst candies for your teeth because they stick to everything inside your mouth, including the grooves between your teeth.

It’s not sugar that causes cavities; it’s the fact that sugar sticks to your mouth longer, and bacteria can feed on it.

If you choose to eat taffy, make sure you wash your mouth out with water or a mouth rinse immediately afterward. The best thing you can do is brush your teeth right away afterward.

The second worst type of food for teeth is anything with a hard shell, such as lollipops or jaw breakers.

This is because although these types of food and candies don’t stick to your mouth, they take a long time to dissolve, and the sugar stays in your mouth for an extremely long amount of time. This means that the longer the food or candy stays in your mouth, the more acidic it can become. This is also a breeding ground for bacteria to feed on, which causes cavities and acid buildup.

Dr. Austria and our team really want you to know that the type of candy you choose will play an important role in your overall health. Whether you’re giving out candy or taking your family trick-or-treating, make sure you educate your children about the types of candy and their effects on kids’ oral health, like the causes of toothaches and how to avoid them.