Which Halloween Candy is Worse for Your Teeth? 🎃🍬

Halloween is just a little more than two weeks away! There is going to be a LOT of candy around the house soon, and Access Dental and Dentures is the best dentist in southern Missouri and we are here to help you sort through exactly which kinds of candy are better for your teeth, and which ones can be really damaging. Keep reading to learn all about how candy affects your teeth before the holiday!

The Worst Candy for Teeth

The reason that candy is so bad for your teeth is because of the high sugar content. Sugar feeds bacteria and allows it to grow and flourish in your mouth. Some candy types can also include ingredients that make it adhere even more to your teeth, causing plaque buildup and tooth decay. These are some of the most detrimental types of candy for your dental health... 

Hard Candies

Some people like to savor hard candy for long amounts of time, while other people like to bite into them and crunch through the piece of candy. Both of these options are not good for your teeth. If you like to savor your hard candy, the candy is in contact with your teeth much longer than other types of candy. Biting through hard candy is also bad because the hard candy can damage your teeth, causing chips, cracks, and enamel issues. 

Sour Candy

This kind of candy is highly acidic. The acid content in sour candy is what give it the very sour flavor people love. But, too much acid is really bad for your teeth. Acid can cause enamel erosion, making your teeth more prone to tooth decay and gum inflammation. 

Gummy Candy & Taffy

This kind of candy tends to stick to and in between your teeth. If gummy candy and taffy gets stuck between your teeth, the sugar stays there and continuously causes damage to your teeth and their enamel. Because it's SO sticky, you need to be sure to floss and brush thoroughly after consuming this kind of candy. One important thing to be aware of - if the gummy or taffy candy you're eating has a high acid content, you need to wait a while before brushing your teeth. Otherwise you'll be scrubbing your teeth with the left-behind acid from the candy, causing more serious enamel erosion. 

Candy That Causes Less Damage

If you're going to eat candy (who doesn't want to around Halloween?!), then there are a few kinds that are not as bad for your teeth. When you choose candy, try aiming for these kinds instead...

Sugar-Free Candy

Clearly, sugar is the most damaging part of candy. That's why choosing sugar-free candy is the best option if you're going to enjoy candy. Without the damaging, bacteria-feeding sugar, the candy will be less damaging. 

Dark Chocolate

Chocolate is an American favorite, so this is great news! Dark chocolate has actually been shown to contain antioxidants, which are good for promoting your health and fighting aging. Dark chocolate also doesn't have as much sugar as milk chocolate, so it's even better for your teeth. 

Visit the Dentist

If you tend to have a sweet tooth and like enjoying candy a little more than you should, then you definitely don't want to skip your dental hygiene habits and dentist appointments. Make sure you are brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing daily, drinking plenty of water, and keeping your dental appointments every 6 months as recommended. Give Access Dental and Dentures a call to schedule your next appointment - we can't wait to help you enjoy a healthier life! 

We want to be your dentist because your family deserves a great smile! 

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Tips to Regulate Your Child's Sugar Intake this Halloween

Halloween is a popular holiday for many across the country. It's also one of the most dangerous times for your teeth. Sugar reacts with the bacteria naturally found in your mouth and causes buildup on your teeth. The influx in sugar around Halloween can cause permanent damage to your child's teeth. If you're looking for unique ways to regulate your child's candy intake, take a look below.

How Sugar Reacts Inside Mouth:

As you eat food with a high level of sugar, like candy, the bacteria in your mouth feed on the sugar that you intake. Once this bacteria feeds off sugar, it breaks down into acids that eat away at the enamel protecting your tooth. The longer sugar is in the mouth, the more the bacteria break down and can eat away at the tooth enamel. Crevices in the tooth that hold sticky, sugary candy are usually the most prone to having an issue caused by the bacteria eroding the protective layer on the teeth.

Ways to Regulate Child's Sugar Intake:

Donate Candy
There are a number of organizations and/or places to donate candy. You can help spread the joy by offering a portion of your child's candy to a good cause. It will help them feel good about giving back and help their teeth feel good with less candy to consume.

Limit Pieces of Candy
A good way to regulate candy intake is to set a limit of how many pieces can be eaten per day. While it may be tough on Halloween as kids sneak a few pieces in between trick-or-treat spots - days after you can only allow a small amount of candy to be consumed.

Divide Candy
Instead of one child eating a bunch of candy, consider dividing the candy up between your entire household. You can even bring some of the candy to your work to help reduce the amount your child eats.

Now that you know some ways to help keep your child's sugar intake at bay this Halloween, you're ready to start implementing some of these techniques tonight. As your kids are out trick-or-treating, consider which ways you will regulate their sugar intake. No matter what you choose, our southern Missouri dentist encourages you to monitor your child's sugar intake. Here at Access Dental & Dentures, we know this can be a challenging time of year for oral care but we are always here to help offer dental care advice. Contact our dentist office near Springfield, MO today to schedule an appointment to get your child's teeth professionally cleaned and checked over.

We want to be your dentist because your family deserves a great smile!

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Springfield Office          Rolla Office          Osage Beach Office      Mountain Grove Office
(417) 501-1048              (573) 426-5447        (573) 348-1466                       (417) 926-1160
1701 West Sunshine      416 S. Bishop Ave.  4320 Osage Beach Pkwy       921 N. Main St.

Springfield, MO 65807   Rolla, MO 65401     Osage Beach, MO. 65065       Mountain Grove

🍬DANGERS of Halloween Candy🍬

Halloween is right around the corner and it's one of the most popular holidays for kids and adults alike. It's also one of the most dangerous times of year for your child's teeth. While avoiding candy all together can be a difficult feat for many, your trusted dentist in Springfield, Missouri wants you to be aware of the damaging effects candy can have on your teeth. More details on how candy damages your teeth is provided below by Access Dental and Dentures.

How Sugar Reacts Inside Mouth

As you eat food with a high level of sugar, like candy, the bacteria in your mouth feed on the sugar that you intake. Once this bacteria feeds off sugar, it breaks down into acids that eat away at the enamel protecting your tooth. The longer sugar is in the mouth, the more the bacteria break down and can eat away at the tooth enamel. Crevices in the tooth that hold sticky, sugary candy are usually the most prone to having an issue caused by the bacteria eroding the protective layer on the teeth.

How to Deal with a Cavity

If you do have an issue arise from the bacteria breaking down your tooth enamel, a cavity, or hole in the tooth may occur. If you do experience a cavity, visit a dental professional as soon as possible. At this point, a professional will be able to fill in the cavity, helping to prevent further damage to the tooth.

How To Prevent Tooth Damage

There are a number of ways to help prevent damage to the tooth. First off, regulate the amount of sugary foods you intake, especially around the Halloween holiday. Along with watching your sugar intake, consider substituting candy for a sugar-free option. Drinking plenty of water can help wash away some of the sugar, and therefore bacteria build up, which causes damage to teeth. Ensure you brush your teeth twice a day and floss at least once, to keep your teeth clear of damaging bacteria that can eat away at the protective enamel covering your teeth. A regular dental visit should be scheduled every six months to ensure no new tooth damage has occurred, and if there is an issue, it can quickly be addressed.

Now that you know more about how the sugar in candy effects the teeth, you can better prepare for the sugar overload that you may experience this Halloween. It's best to help regulate the amount of sugar your child takes in. Here at Access Dental & Dentures, we can help! If your child starts to get a toothache after the Halloween sugar overload, they may be getting a cavity. Bring them in to our dentist in southern Missouri for a routine cleaning and check over their teeth for damage. 

We want to be your dentist because your family deserves a great smile!

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Springfield Office          Rolla Office          Osage Beach Office      Mountain Grove Office
(417) 501-1048              (573) 426-5447        (573) 348-1466                       (417) 926-1160
1701 West Sunshine      416 S. Bishop Ave.  4320 Osage Beach Pkwy       921 N. Main St.

Springfield, MO 65807   Rolla, MO 65401     Osage Beach, MO. 65065       Mountain Grove