Share:

Halloween candy is a festive treat; however, without strict oral hygiene severe tooth decay, that requires the attention of a dental surgeon will occur. Although regular brushing and flossing is the best way to actively prevent dental problems, cavities and decay can still happen. Here are a few candies you should be wary of because they can harm your kids’ teeth.

3 Halloween Candies to Avoid

1. Sticky or Chewy Candies

There’s a large amount of sugar in treats that are sticky or chewy, like taffy, nougat, and even dried fruit. When your children eat these candies, the sugar thickly coats their teeth, getting stuck between the crevices. Since it’s difficult to brush off sticky, hard-to-reach sugar, some of it may remain for a long time. Bacteria will feast on leftover sugars, growing into a cavity and causing tooth loss. To avoid the need for implants from a dental surgeon, swap your kids’ sticky, chewy candies for sugarless gum. Gum has a similar texture, and fruity varieties can mimic candy.

2. Hard Candies

dental surgeonJawbreakers and lollipops are designed to take a while to eat, giving the sugar plenty of time to build on your children’s teeth and form cavities. The crunch of hard candies can crack teeth if it’s done with too much force, necessitating immediate treatment or even tooth extraction from a dental surgeon. Chocolate is healthier for teeth than hard candy because it’s soft and doesn’t linger as long. Dark chocolate is especially better since it has less sugar than white or milk varieties.

3. Sour or Gummy Candies

These treats are sugary and highly acidic. Too much acid can wear down your kids’ protective tooth enamel, which can’t be recovered or replaced. Without enamel, the tooth is vulnerable to disease, breakage, and nerve exposure. A diseased tooth can spread it’s illness to surrounding teeth, and it may need to be removed by a dental surgeon and replaced by an implant.

 

If your kids are experiencing oral discomfort after indulging in Halloween candy, contact Lyle C. Yanagihara DDS, MS, in Honolulu, HI. If tooth removal is necessary, this skilled dental surgeon and his team will quickly replace it with an implant. Dr. Yanagihara actively continues his education on the industry’s latest techniques to provide his patients with the best care possible. Call (808) 973-1433 to schedule an appointment, and learn more about your children’s first visit online.

tracking