With Halloween fast approaching, many parents are experiencing concern over the fate of their children’s teeth. Every child loves Halloween—dressing up, watching spooky movies, and eating lots and lots of candy. So how can you let your kids enjoy candy without worrying about cavities? For that matter, how can you yourself enjoy a few Halloween snacks without undoing all your protective brushing and flossing? Dr. Lisa Kederian has put together a few handy tips for this Halloween season in the hopes that your teeth will stay strong and healthy without you having to forgo a few delicious treats.
In order for a cavity to form, three basic elements are necessary. There must be food, bacteria, and an acidic environment. Without all three components, a cavity will not form. Candy, however, creates the perfect combination of all three of these components: candy is a food that is easily broken down by common bacteria found in your mouth. When bacteria digest sugary candy, they produce lactic acid, creating an acidic environment. Thus, if you eat a sugary food with bacteria present in your mouth, an acidic environment is created, completing the trio.
To avoid cavities, there are simple steps you can take to prevent bacteria from breaking down the sugar. First, try eating all the candy you want in one sitting, rather than snacking throughout the day. When you eat a carbohydrate, there is a 30-60 minute period during which bacteria feed on the sugar and produce acid. If you can limit yourself to eating candy all at one time, your exposure to acidity is greatly decreased. If you eat all your candy and then brush your teeth, you can greatly reduce the chances of getting a cavity.
Stay away from hard candies and stick to chewable ones. Hard candies remain in your mouth for a prolonged period of time, as you do not chew and swallow them like a chocolate or chewy candy. The same goes from extremely sticky candies, like caramels, as the sticky substance can become stuck to your teeth and stay there long after you chew and swallow.
If you have an extreme sweet tooth and need to snack, try chocolate candy or sugar-free chewing gum. Chocolate, especially dark chocolate, has a low concentration of sugar, as the candy is sweetened naturally by cocoa solids, which contain tannin. Tannin is a compound that helps reduce the growth of plaque; it also contains oxalic acid, which reduces acid production. Chewing gum stimulates your salivary glands, helping you to produce more saliva, which creates a neutral environment. Also, chewing gum with Xylitol can even help to prevent cavities. Xylitol is natural non-fermentable sugar alcohol that starves harmful micro-organisms, allowing enamel crystals to re-mineralize damaged areas of the teeth.
Finally, as always, pay attention to your oral hygiene habits. After consuming candy, make sure to brush and floss your teeth right away—do not wait until bedtime. Also, using a rinse with fluoride can also aid in re-mineralizing broken crystal structures on the surface of the enamel, allowing your teeth to become stronger. Halloween is a time for fun and indulging; do not let a fear of cavities ruin your holiday…but do not let the holiday ruin your smile, either!