How To Prevent Tooth Decay This Halloween 2018

Prevent tooth decay this Halloween and make the holiday a little less scary! Unfortunately, the bitter truth is that you put your teeth at risk every time you eat candy. The good news is that you can prevent tooth decay this Halloween. There are many precautions you can take to make sure nothing bad happens to your teeth. Follow these simple tips provided by our dentists in Vaughan for the best possible results.

What is the Best Candy for Your Teeth?

Prevent tooth decay this Halloween by helping your child make better treat choices. Dark chocolate, undoubtedly, is the healthiest treat for your teeth and might be even better than flouride for tooth decay! According to some researchers, a compound in cocoa, assists in the hardening of tooth enamel. Compounds present in cocoa beans also contain antibacterial properties that help attack plaque. Sugarless gum and sugarless candies, such as those made with sweeteners such as stevia and xylitol are also better for your teeth compared to other candy. Sugar eats bacteria plus disrupts the healthy pH and bacteria ratios in your mouth. Limit or avoid artificial sweeteners made of chemicals. Finally, candy bars that contain nuts are better for your teeth compared to other candy. The nuts can help break up the stickiness of candy - this is what increases your chance of getting a cavity. Nuts also provide protein, good fat and fibre, which is good for your health.

What is the Most Unhealthy?

Chocolate Bars

3 Musketeers:

• The chocolate bar has 240 calories, along with 36 sugar grams, and 5 of fat, as well as trans-fats.

Milky Way:

• This bar’s caramel interior has over 20 grams of pure sugar. They also stick to teeth which leads to cavities.

Butterfingers:

• One bar has around 275 calories along with tons of sugar and fat. One of the main ingredients is corn syrup, then sugar, and there is also hydrogenated oils. It contains preservatives such as, TBHQ, which is basically phenol with butane (lighter fluid).

Snickers:

• This bar has 250 calories, 12 grams of fat, and 27 grams of sugar. It contains unhealthy corn syrup with hydrogenated oils as well. Hydrogenated oils raises your cholesterol levels.

Chewy Candy

One Sour Patch Kids box contains a lot of sugar. 36 grams of it, to be exact. The main ingredients are sugar and corn syrup. There is citric acid and artificial coloring preservatives in addition to those.

Starburst

The first two ingredients in these are sugar and corn syrup. There are also artificial dyes like Red 40, which has benzidine, a carcinogen. One serving has about 22 grams of sugar!

Hard Candy

One box of Nerds has 12 grams of sugar. They’re also packed with artificial flavors and coated in unnatural dyes.

Powdered Candy

One serving of Fun Dip has 13 grams of sugar.  
 

Why is Candy Bad for Your Teeth?

Your mouth has hundreds of bacteria, many of which are good for your oral health. But, there is also some harmful oral bacteria in your mouth that feed on the sugars (candy being a major culprit) you eat and in turn create acids that destroy your tooth enamel (the tooth’s shiny, protective outer layer).

Cavities are basically a bacterial infection that have been created by acids. This eventually leads to a hole in your tooth. If you don’t see your dentist and have the cavities taken care of, they can move past the enamel of your tooth and go deeper into your tooth. This can cause tooth loss, not to mention plenty of pain.

Your saliva can help you. Saliva contains minerals like calcium and phosphate, which can help repair your teeth. Fluoride can also help repair weakened enamel. However, if you eat a lot of candy and starches, these minerals won’t do much good. Prevent tooth decay this Halloween. Limiting or avoiding your sugar intake (candy!) is your main defence when it comes to protecting your teeth from the harm it can cause.

Tips for Preventing Tooth Decay This Halloween

Eat at the Right Time

Eat your Halloween candy and other sugary treats with meals. You produce more saliva during meals which helps cancel out acids and rinses away food particles.

Which Candy is Witch?

Prevent tooth decay this Halloween by avoiding hard candy and sweets that stay in your mouth for long periods of time as this plays a role in tooth decay. Sticky candies stick to your teeth and take longer to get washed away by saliva. Avoid sugary drinks like soda, sports drinks and flavored waters too. Beverages that contain sugar increase the risk of tooth decay as well.

Maintain a Healthy Diet

Your body is like a complex machine. The foods you choose as fuel and how often you "fill up" affect your general health and that of your teeth and gums. Unhealthy snacking can increase your risk of cavities.

Drink Lots of Water

Drinking fluoridated water can help prevent tooth decay.

Brush Twice a Day and Floss

This is an important step to help you prevent tooth decay this Halloween. Brush your teeth at least twice a day for two minutes with a dentist recommended fluoride toothpaste. Replace your toothbrush every three to four months. Floss your teeth at least once a day. Flossing helps remove bacteria, plaque and food particles from under the gum line and between teeth.

Visit Your Dentist

Regular visits to your dentist can help prevent and catch tooth problems before it’s late in the game.

Choose The Right Dentist

Halloween can be a stressful (instead of enjoyable) time when it comes to trying to avoid dental problems. It’s important to prevent tooth decay this Halloween. Dr. Pedvis at Mackenzie Dental Centre can help with any problems your child may experience after Halloween. With state-of-the-art technology and an excellent staff, Mackenzie Dental Centre offers a variety of services for the whole family. We offer crowns, bridges, invisalign and more for children and adults. We also offer cosmetic dentistry, dental implants and emergency dental services. Dr. Pedvis makes sure children always feel comfortable. If you have any questions about tooth decay, feel free to contact us. We are professionals and we’re here to help.