Let Them Eat Candy! A Realistic Guide to Holiday Munching

Halloween candy and other holiday treats seem everywhere, from Thanksgiving until after New Year's. But let's get real: we love them, and no matter what, they end up in front of us throughout this time of year. Even the team here loves to pop a few here and there on occasion, and why not? We all deserve a little something, something once in a while!

Rather than taking a very hard-line approach to candies of all types throughout the holidays, it’s much better (and realistic) to simply try to make better choices in which types of treats you pop into your mouth, as well as the more obvious "everything in moderation" approach. By making better choices, you can help save damage to your teeth in the long term.

So, with that said, here are five handy things to keep in mind throughout the coming holidays (especially you Halloween!).

1. Enjoy Candies with Mealtimes 

This one might sound a bit odd, but timing is everything when it comes to candies. If you eat candy right after eating a meal, as opposed to on its own, you have a lot more naturally occurring saliva in your mouth from eating your meal. This helps to rinse away the candy from your teeth, helping you to minimize a lot of the acids made by bacteria that cause cavities.

2. Avoid Very Sticky and Sour Candies

The type of candy you eat can make all the difference. Stay away from hard candies, you know, the types we're talking about, the ones that seem to coat your teeth for a long time and stick like glue. Candies that stick to your teeth significantly increase the risk of getting cavities. As far as sour candies go, they are full of strong acids that give them that distinct sour taste. Unfortunately, these same acids are to blame for damaging the enamel on your teeth.

3. Chocolate is Actually Better

If we're being honest about candy, the truth is that of all the sweets out there, chocolate is the better alternative to hard and sticky or sour candies since it doesn't stick to your teeth as easily as others. Dark chocolate is better for your teeth than other kinds, as it has less sugar and, therefore, less cavity-causing risks associated with it.

4. Drink Water After Candy Eating

It's true: drinking or swishing water for a few seconds after having candy does make a difference, much like having candy after a meal, having water after some candy helps to rinse away sugars left over and neutralize a lot of the damaging acids left over after enjoying some candy.

5. Avoid Brushing Right After Having Candies

Recent studies show that brushing right after munching candy or other acidic foods can do way more harm than good. Essentially, by brushing too soon, you are helping the acids that are sitting on your teeth to push into your teeth. Instead, wait 30-40 minutes for your saliva to do its job and replace some of the acids before brushing the rest away.

Noticing pain or sensitivity when you have sweets? Come in and get it checked before you enjoy the holiday treat season and get the holiday season started right, knowing you've got your oral health covered by your team here at Sparkleen Dental. Request an appointment here online, or call us at: (647) 370-0476