Protecting Your Teeth This Halloween

It only takes one trip to the local supermarket or discount department store to know that it’s Halloween season as the aisles are loaded with all types of sweet, sticky and gooey treats!

While the friendly team here at Chestnut Family Dental enjoys Halloween just as much as most people do, the thought of what all that candy can do to teeth makes us cringe!

Candy is Not Tooth-Friendly!

Every time you eat a piece of candy, all that sugar mixes with the saliva and bacteria in your mouth to assault your teeth. For about twenty minutes, the protective enamel on your teeth will be under attack for every bite of candy you take. This means that if you eat lots of candy like what many people do on Halloween, your teeth will be constantly under attack, to put you at high risk for developing cavities.

So what should you do? Forget all about Halloween and just stay home? Of course not! Just be mindful of how much candy and other sweets you enjoy and be sure to do a great job of brushing and flossing your teeth. To make things a little easier, we’ve put together a list of some of the candy and other sweets you should try to avoid eating this Halloween.

Sticky & Gooey Candy and Sweets

Candy and other goodies that are sticky and gooey are difficult to remove from your teeth. Instead of reaching for a candy bar containing caramel, choose a plain chocolate bar instead that simply melts in your mouth. Other sticky treats to steer clear of that can play some ghoulish tricks on your teeth include:

  • Caramel and candy apples
  • Caramel corn
  • Toffee
  • Licorice
  • Tootsie rolls
  • Sugar Babies and Sugar Daddies
  • Jelly beans

Hard Candy

A sure-fire way to crack or chip a tooth is to chomp down on a rock-hard piece of candy. Try to steer clear of hard candies and other treats that are very crunchy like peanut brittle. If you want to enjoy hard candy like a lollipop or lifesaver, instead of biting down, lick the lollipop or suck on the candy to save yourself an emergency visit with your Manchester, NH dentist!

These are just some of the types of goodies to avoid this Halloween that can raise your risk for cavities and injuries to your teeth. Just use your common sense and try to choose tooth-friendly treats like cheese, apples and other fruits, berries, grapes, and soft treats like cupcakes.

Visit Us for Professional Cleanings!

This is a great time of the year for us to remind everyone of how important it is to have your teeth cleaned regularly. If it’s been longer than six months since your last professional cleaning, request an appointment with us today! Once we’re finished cleaning your teeth, you can flash that big smile of yours knowing that your teeth are healthy, shiny and clean!