As we enter into another holiday season that usually means a boatload of candy for kids as they trick-or-treat from door to door, it’s important to recognize just which candy causes the most cavities. While your pediatric dentist in Long Island totally recognizes how fun and important it is to bring home a bag full of candy, we do want to share a little bit about which candy is the worst for teeth.
Candy Corn
Love it or hate it, this sticky candy is everywhere during the fall. Despite the fact that it has the clever name of a healthy vegetable, candy corn can mean bad news for teeth. It’s sticky, which means it lingers on teeth long after it’s eaten, and it’s packed full of sugar, which means those sugar bugs are infesting your little one’s tiny teeth.
Taffy
This delectable treat comes in a ton of different flavors and can be incredibly delicious. However, not only is it loaded with sugar, but it’s also one of the stickiest snacks your kid can have. That means it’s not only bad for teeth because it can stick around, but it also means this treat is known for causing damage to dental restorations such as fillings.
Lollipops
Lollipops and other candies that require a lot of sucking over a prolonged period of time, which means their sugar content is being exposed to teeth the entire time, are dangerous for teeth. After all, the longer a candy takes to consume means the more time sugar is allowed to stick around and cause damage.
Sour Candy
Not only is sour candy packed full of sugar, but it also packs a double punch since it’s also acidic. Acid can weaken tooth enamel and leave teeth at risk for damage caused by sugar. Too much of the stuff can require a visit to your pediatric dentist in Long Island.
Popcorn
Ok, so this one isn’t so sweet, but it is common to find in treat-or-treat bags. Popcorn doesn’t contain a lot of sugar but it has a secret – those pesky hidden kernels. Popcorn kernels can cause tooth damage when bitten unexpectedly. This can cause broken teeth or damage an existing filling.
Best Practices
You may not completely be able to remove these snacks from your kid’s trick-or-treat bag, and that’s ok! What’s important is that your child enjoys these snacks in moderation and that you make sure your little one is brushing and flossing their teeth daily.
While it may seem as if your pediatric dentist in Long Island hates candy, the truth is that we also love it, just like your kids. But we want to stress the importance of enjoying sweets in moderation and brushing and flossing your kid’s teeth regularly, especially after a candy binge.
