It’s September and Halloween candy is already lining the shelves of stores across the country. Although we have known for years that candy equals cavities, your child will most likely end up eating it whether you allow them to or not. Instead of fighting an uphill battle you are sure to lose, we’ve provided a list of candy that is less harmful and ones to avoid.
Candy and Braces: What to Avoid
Sticky Candy: Sticky candy is one of the worst ones for your teeth. They get stuck in the crevices and linger, allowing tooth decay at a rapid rate. It also contains a lot of sugar, making it just as bad as any other candy you should avoid. The length of sugar exposure is directly proportional to dental health, so if you can, avoid eating these at all costs.
Hard Candy: Due to its makeup, hard candy is meant to stay in the mouth longer than other candies, further exposing teeth to its sugar and chemicals. Your saliva fills with the sugar as you suck, coating your teeth for the entirety of the time you consume it. More exposure means more risk of cavities. These can also break or chip your teeth if you bite down on them.
Candy with Nuts: Candy and its sugar sticks to your teeth, thus causing the cavities everyone wants to avoid. Having nuts, however, breaks up the stickiness. This largely decreases the chance of receiving cavities from candy. The crunching can also break up plaque. Overall, adding nuts keeps the sugar from sticking to teeth.
Candy and Braces: What is the Safest?
Chocolate: Chocolate is the best candy for teeth overall. Thankfully it is also the most popular candy and can be found in many desserts. Why is this? Chocolate is easier to wash off of teeth, so it is far less likely to stick around and leave cavities or other types of damage. Dark chocolate is the best because it contains less sugar. In fact, some studies have suggested that dark chocolate contains compounds that can help harden tooth enamel. So, when you’re given a choice, always go dark.
Contact Us
If you still have questions or need to talk to us about your child’s candy consumption, feel free to reach out to us at our Billings, MT location. We are always available and happy to help!