The Best and Worst Candy for Your Teeth

It’s that time again when our grocery aisles are taken over by ghoulish and ghostly goodies. From mini candy bars to oh-so-good gooey treats, the zombie and skeleton wrapping can only mean one thing — Halloween season is here. This also means another holiday that tempts us all with sugary sweet candy is upon us. But just because it’s a well-known fact that your dentist in Rocky Mount really doesn’t like candy, we’re not here to ruin the fun. Instead, we want to help you by talking about the best, and the worst, candy for your pearly whites. 

The Best

Just because your dentist has a fear of the sugar bug doesn’t mean we don’t still love to satisfy our sweet tooth, just like you. We just try to limit the candy that’s not so good for teeth and focus more on the ones that aren’t so bad including: 

• Dark Chocolate

Dark chocolate has less sugar than other chocolates, making it a better choice for oral health. But that’s not all. Dark chocolates can provide you with powerful antioxidants, too.

• Sugar-Free Candy

This doesn’t need much of an explanation. No sugar means less of a chance of developing cavities, which makes your Rocky Mount dentist pretty happy. 

• Candy Bars with Nuts

Candy bars that contain nuts act almost like a quick cleaning as you eat them. The crunchiness of the nuts can help scrub leftover pieces of candy from teeth, reducing the amount of sugar left behind. 

The Worst

The worst candies for smiles all have similar qualities. They’re loaded with sugar, they take time to eat, and they can cause enamel erosion or other dental damage. Try your best to avoid these treats, or enjoy them in moderation: 

• Sour Candy

Pucker-inducing sour sweets pack a double-whammy as they contain two ingredients that don’t go well with teeth. The acid in these treats erodes tooth enamel, making it easier for bacteria to get into the hard-to-reach places and feed on the sugars. 

• Sticky Sweets 

Sticky candies such as caramels, gummy animals, and taffy can easily get stuck in the grooves of teeth, leaving them around for bacteria to feed on. The result? An increased risk of decay. Also, those with braces should avoid sticky foods as they can cause damage to the brackets and wires and require repairs. 

• Hard Candy

Candy such as lollipops or individually wrapped hard candies can not only increase the risk of decay, they can also damage teeth. These candies also take time to eat, which means teeth are exposed to the sugars over and over again. 

Limit Damage

We know it’s unrealistic to ask that you never eat any of the candy in the “The Worst” category, especially during Halloween and the upcoming holidays. And that’s okay. But if you do indulge a bit, follow these tips to reduce the risk of decay or other dental problems:

• Rinse with water. Sipping water while eating sugary foods helps neutralize the acid produced by bacteria that feed on the sugary sweet stuff. Swishing with water afterward knocks loose any particles stuck in grooves and crevices. 
• Don’t munch on them all day. This limits the amount of time your teeth are exposed to sugar. The less time sugar spends in your mouth, the less chance for decay and cavities. 
• Don’t brush. Well, not right away. Wait for at least a half-hour to an hour after eating sweets to give the acid a chance to neutralize. Brushing right away can actually cause more damage. 

Another way you can keep your pearly whites healthy and cavity-free is to maintain regular appointments with your dentist in Rocky Mount.  

From all of us to you and yours, Happy Halloween!

About The Author

Dr. Richard Hunt

Dr. Richard Hunt has served as president of the NC Dental Society and the Dental Foundation of NC. He is the director and past chair of the LD Pankey Foundation and former chair of the Dental Assisting National Board. Dr. Hunt regularly teaches at the Pankey Institute for Advanced Dental Education and the UNC Adams School of Dentistry. An active member of the American Dental Association, he has represented his peers from NC, SC, and VA on the ADA’s Council on Dental Practice.

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