The holiday season is a time when many folks indulge in delectable treats that make our taste buds tingle – but what our senses might crave isn’t necessarily good for our teeth. With Halloween right upon us, followed by the biggest holidays of the year, it’s good to know which sweets are the worst candy for teeth, and why.
Sugar
Much like consuming tobacco and alcohol, eating a lot of sugar isn’t exactly the healthiest choice you can make. Unfortunately, sugar is a major ingredient in most treats, such as cake, cookies and especially candy. One health risk of sugar is that it can affect your teeth.
Our mouths are loaded with germs known as bacteria. When the bacteria stick to teeth, they form a substance called plaque. Sugars from the foods we eat are consumed by the bacteria in the plaque and are turned into acids. These acids can dissolve the protective enamel on teeth, creating cavities. The end result is tooth decay and, potentially, tooth pain and sometimes loss.
Candy Culprits
Peppermint and other mint candies are an extremely popular treat during the holidays. Unfortunately, since mints are 100 percent sugar, they should be near the top of any list of the worst candy for teeth around the holidays.
Hard candies have their own way of damaging teeth, as well. Although chewy candy nests on teeth, hard candy dissolves in your mouth over a slow period, allowing the bacteria access to more sugar. Another concern with hard candies is for those who can’t resist biting them: doing so can result in chipped or broken teeth.
Chewy candies are another perpetrator of tooth damage. Caramel is a great example of a chewy candy that may hit your sweet spot, but is guaranteed to stay there for some time. Caramel sticks to your teeth, which gives it staying power that provides bacteria with ample opportunity to consume the sugar.
Awesome Alternatives
One way to minimize your mouth’s exposure to holiday candies is by eating healthy snacks. Fresh fruits, such as strawberries and melons, are nutritious, healthy alternatives to candy or sugary desserts. Low-fat yogurt or cottage cheese, unbuttered popcorn and baked tortilla chips are excellent alternatives to fatty snacks and appetizers, along with raw veggies like carrots and celery.
Making it through the holidays without eating any type of sugary candy or treats at all is probably not a realistic expectation. The keys to maintaining proper oral health are consumption in moderation and regular brushing and flossing to help strengthen enamel, reduce plaque and fight cavities.
Johnson Family Dental in Paducah, KY is here to help you in the fight against cavities. Johnson Family Dental is conveniently located at 2913 Lone Oak Rd, Paducah, KY. If you are looking for a Paducah area dentist, give us a call at (270) 554-2432 or CLICK HERE to contact us.