A Halloween Candy Guide From Your Boise Dentist

This Halloween, little ghost and goblins around the Treasure Valley will try to collect as much treats and candy and they can. Keep in mind that it’s not just our little ones that enjoy all these treats! Nearly 80% of parents admit to sneaking their children’s Halloween candy as well… But did you know that some candies have the potential to do more damage to teeth than others?

Your Boise dentist wants you to know that when it comes to candy, it’s important to choose a treat that melts and disappears quickly. The longer teeth are exposed to sugar, the longer bacteria can feed on it, which produces cavity-causing acid that can quickly start to cause expensive Boise dental problems.

In fact, your Boise dentist says that the best way to protect teeth from decay this Halloween while still enjoying the treats is to have candy in small portions at limited times, such as after a meal, as dessert, or at regular snack times. This helps kids to avoid snacking on candy periodically throughout the day. It’s also extremely important that kids keep up on their Boise dental health by brushing their teeth or at least rinsing with water after eating sweets. *Keep in mind that high sugar diets are not only detrimental to your Boise dental health but your overall health as well.

While no sweets are good for teeth, there are however some that are less harmful than others. Below are some of the best and worst treats for teeth according to your Boise dentist on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being the least harmful:

1. Sugar-free candy and gum with xylitol
   Sugar-free foods don’t contain sugar that can feed on the bacteria in the mouth and produce decay-causing acids. Gum and candy with xylitol may actually help to protect teeth by reducing the acids produced by bacteria while increasing saliva to rinse away excess sugars and acids.
2. Powdery candy (such as sugar straws)
   Sure, powdery candy is PACKED with pure sugar. However, powdery candy dissolves quickly and doesn’t stick to teeth.
3. Chocolate (such as candy bars)
   Everyone loves chocolate including your Boise dentist! The good thing about chocolate is that it dissolves quickly in the mouth and can be eaten easily which decreases the amount of time its sugar stays in contact with the teeth. Not to mention the calcium some chocolates contain can actually help to protect tooth enamel. However, chocolate with fillings, such as caramel and nuts, is a lot more harmful for teeth than the plain variety.
4. Hard candy (such as lollipops or mints)
   Hard candy is especially tough on teeth because it tends to be sucked on at a leisurely pace for an extended period of time. In addition, chomping down on hard candy can increase your risk of chipping or breaking a tooth!
5. Chewy candy (such as caramels or gummies)
   Chewy, sticky treats are particularly damaging because they are high in sugar, and spend a prolonged amount of time stuck to (and in between) teeth, and are more difficult for saliva to break down.