What Is The Worst Candy For Your Teeth This Halloween?
Halloween is upon us! Children are getting ready to roam the streets and fill their bags, buckets, and baskets with treats. Adults are stocking up on big sacks of candy to appease these wandering ghouls and goblins. Many of us lack the willpower to resist dipping into that chocolate supply before those children come a-knocking.
So, what are the worst candies for your teeth, and how do you keep those teeth (fangs?) as white as a ghost?
These are some of the worst candies for your teeth (in no particular order), and a quick guide to make sure your sweet tooth doesn’t become a decayed tooth…
What Candy Is Bad For Your Teeth This Halloween?
1. Sticky candy
Sticky candy clings to your teeth longer and is harder to clean, leading to more cavity-causing bacterial activity. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Snickers
- Twix
- Milky Way
- Tootsie rolls
- Caramels
- Taffy
- Gummies
- Swedish fish
- Dots
- Mike & Ike
- Jelly beans
- Sugar gum
- Heath
- Starbursts
- Gushers
- And other candy with similar consistency
2. Hard Candy
Hard candies usually take a long time to dissolve and make sustained contact with your teeth, which can lead to more enamel-eating bacteria. That includes:
- Lollipops
- Jolly ranchers
- Jaw breakers
- Sugar mints
- Stick candy
- And other hard candies
3. Gummy candy
Gummies tend to be more acidic, which can erode your teeth’s protective enamel. Including:
- Gummy worms
- Gummy bears
- Starburst
- Fruit roll-up
- Gushers
4. Sour candy
Sour candy tends to be very acidic, which can lead to more damage to your enamel. That includes:
- Warheads
- Sour gummy words
- Sour
5. Basically all sugary candy…
When your teeth are coated in sugar, bacteria thrive and multiply. These bacteria cause tooth decay and damage the enamel, leading to cavities and possible gingivitis.
Good alternatives for your teeth
Some less-damaging alternatives to the candies above (in moderation) include:
- Sugar-free gum
- Sugar-free hard candy
- Chocolate
- Dark chocolate
- Powdery candy
Keep these tips in mind when that other candy-filled holiday rolls around in a couple months!
All of this is not to say you can never eat sugary candy.
But it is a good idea to (a) eat candy in moderation, and (b) brush and floss after snacking on sugary treats.
If you need help with cavities after all your Halloween treats, please don't wait to contact Dr. Dixon today!
