It’s been a couple of weeks since Halloween, and you just might have a bucket or two of candy that has survived to this point. Now it wouldn’t be right to deprive you or your kids of these indulgence, so here are a few tips to help make your candy consumption compatible with your oral health.
Sugary foods like candy cause the mouth to become acidic. Every time you ingest food, your mouth increases salivary production to cancel out the acid production that occurs when eating those sugary candies. If you are going to have candy, this is a good time to do so. This is also beneficial because by eating your candy with or shortly after your meal, you allow your oral environment to stabilize itself and recover from the acids produced. On the contrary, if you are frequently snacking on candies throughout the day, the oral environment will remain more acidic for longer periods of time.
Another important factor is the type of candies that are consumed. Try to avoid the sticky candies as they tend to be adherent to tooth structure. This makes it harder for you to remove them when cleaning your teeth. Going back to the time of consumption, the harder candies typically take longer to eat, which allows more acid and more potential tooth breakdown to occur. Try to choose a candy that is not too sticky and can be consumed rather quickly.
During these times of increased consumption of sugary foods, it is important to be drinking lots of fluoridated water. This helps to strengthen the enamel which provides the protection against the acid breakdown of tooth structure.
These tips, along with your standard oral hygiene routine, should allow you and your teeth to have a safe and Happy Halloween!
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