McNaughton Family Dental – Halloween Candy Tips

It can be a scary time of year for your dental health but there are ways to avoid carnage in your mouth
Dentists know a lot of candy will be eaten over the coming weeks by people of all ages, so there’s no
need to try to hide it! Instead, we are pointing out some timely facts so that you can still enjoy the Halloween season and all the sweets and treats that come along with it, just
with less guilt and hopefully, minimal damage to your teeth.
Best time to be sinful: While anytime may be the preferred time to eat candy, there’s a more strategic
way to indulge without ruining your teeth. Having candy at the end of a meal will lessen the chance of
eating too much of it. That’s also when your mouth has the most saliva going so it can help rinse away
some of the sugary residue from your teeth.
Risky candies: Some sweets are less harmful to your teeth than others, so before you dig into your
candy mountain, remember that lollipops and jaw breakers can chip teeth and take more time to
dissolve, leaving sugar coating your mouth for a longer time. Caramels, chewy candies and even dried
fruit can get stuck in between teeth and speed up tooth decay.
Liquid sugar threats: Sugar isn’t just in candy, it’s also in fruit juices, pop and mixed alcohol-based drinks, so follow up your sweet drink with water or chew sugar-free gum to neutralize sugar and acids.
Clean up the crime scene: There is a right way to care for your teeth after raiding the candy stash and it
isn’t running to the washroom to brush immediately. Because the process of eating softens tooth
enamel, it’s best to wait 30 minutes before giving your teeth a good brush and floss to make sure all
sugar and candy is removed from the surface and crannies of your teeth.