As Halloween quickly approaches, your smile may be in grave danger. If you’re not careful, the sugary candies and treats available could attack your chompers and promote tooth decay. No one wants that this holiday season. However, our Ron Hernandez, DDS team isn’t telling you to stop eating Halloween treats altogether—we’re just telling you to keep your smile in mind while you trick or treat.
To help you take good care of your teeth and gums this Halloween, Dr. Ron Hernandez and our team are happy to give you a list of the best and worst treats for your smile:
Best Candies
-Sugar-free candy and gum: Sugar-free treats don’t contain sugar, which is beneficial because sugar constantly feeds on the bacteria in the mouth, producing decay-causing acids. Sugar-free candy and gum often has xylitol, which is a product that can protect your teeth by reducing acids. Eating and chewing these treats can also create extra saliva and rinse away the harmful particles.
-Powdery candy: Yes, powdery candy contains high amounts of sugar, but the treat dissolves quickly and doesn’t stick to the teeth, which decreases your chances of having tooth decay.
-Chocolate: Chocolate dissolves quickly in the mouth and can be eaten easily, which is helpful because it decreases the amount of time the sugar stays in contact with the teeth. However, chocolate with fillings, like nuts and caramel, can be more harmful to your chompers.
Worst Candies
-Hard candy: Hard candy is harmful for the teeth because it’s usually in the mouth for a long period of time, mostly because it’s natural to suck on hard candies. Also, chomping down on hard candies can chip or crack your teeth.
-Chewy or sticky candy: Chewy or sticky candies are harmful for your smile because they are extremely high in sugar and they tend to stick to the teeth for a long period of time. Also, chewy and sticky candies are more difficult to break down with saliva.
Now that you know the best and worst Halloween treats for your smile, we encourage you to care for your teeth and gums by only eating the best treats available. If you have any questions about the best tooth-healthy Halloween treats in Fremont, California, please feel free to call our office today at 510-248-4847. Your dentist and dental team are more than happy to help you!