Here at Harte Dental, we do not eat any candy. ... ... ...
Just kidding! We fully appreciate the joy of enjoying some delicious candy now and then! We also encourage being proactive in preventing cavities, which go hand-in-hand with eating candy. Brushing twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush is essential, along with flossing!
Fun fact: You should wait about 30 minutes after eating to brush if you want to be proactive! This time allows the enamel to build itself back up before you brush!
Did you know not all candies interact with your teeth the same way?
You are more likely to develop cavities if the candy is...
Sticky and Sugar is Concentrated
Acidic
In Contact with your Teeth for Long Durations
The "best candy is no candy" technically, but here is a list of candies that are okay for the teeth and not okay for the teeth, created at AskTheDentist.com...
"Best" Candies
1. Dark chocolate is the best candy for your teeth by far! There is a compound in chocolate that helps to harden tooth enamel, and it may help fight tooth decay just like flouride! Compounds in cocoa beans also have an antibacterial effect that fights plaque.
2. Sugarless gum and candies, such as candies with stevia or candies that people with diabetes consume. Sugar feeds bacteria and upsets the healthy ratios of pH and bacteria in the mouth, so a sugarless candy comes in as “second best” here. Still, you should be wary because whenever you see the sugarless label, the candy tends to have other bad chemicals in it that are detrimental to your health in another way.
3. Candy bars with nuts. Candy bars with a lot of nuts (Payday or KIND bars for example) can break up the stickiness, and it’s the stickiness of a candy that increases chance of cavity, so having nuts (and the protein/fiber that nuts provide) can break up the “badness” of the sticky parts of the candy. Nuts can also break up some of the biofilm of the teeth.
Worst Candies
1. Sticky Candy. The stickier the candy, the worse it is — for example, Sugar Daddy, Swedish Fish, Tootsie Rolls, etc. The effects of these sticky candies will linger on and in between teeth, increasing the chance for a cavity. The same for dried fruit, which is just as bad for your teeth because of the stickiness and concentration of sugar. (Stick to real fruit, which is far less concentrated in sugar)
2. Lollipops. The frequency of exposure is more harmful than the quantity. If you eat the candy quickly and brush your teeth and it’s over very quickly — as far as your teeth go (not talking about blood glucose systems and the effect on the rest of the body) it’s much better than sucking on a candy all day long, like in the case of a lollipop. Frequency of exposure increases chance of harm to teeth.
3. Gummy worms, because they’re the most acidic. Acid is bad for your teeth because it wears down the tooth enamel, which protects your teeth. This makes it easier for teeth to become chipped or broken. Enamel also insulates the tooth. A lack of enamel can expose the nerves in your teeth, which are extremely sensitive to changes in temperature of the things you eat and drink.
So enjoy some delicious candies with your family this Easter, we hope this helped! Feel free to drink water to rinse your mouth immediately after candy and remember, wait about 30 minutes after eating before brushing!
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