Treats can be Tricky!

Halloween: a day dedicated to eating candy -what is there not to love! The simple answer to that is dental cavities. Not to worry though, with a few tips you can balance candy with healthy teeth this Halloween.

One thing to note is that the length of time sugar stays on the teeth plays a significant role in cavity development. Avoid candies that last in the mouth for long periods of times such as sticky and hard candies like tootsie rolls, gummy worms, caramel, and lollipops. Not to mention, hard candy can increase your risk of damaging your teeth if accidently biting into them, which can lead to tooth fracture or dislodge a filling or restoration. If you are indulging in a sweet treat, it is best to do so during mealtimes. This allows for more saliva to be present within the mouth, which can help neutralize the sugary acids produced by oral bacteria.

It is also best to limit the amount of sugar you consume. Take a look at these tasty Halloween treats and their sugar content:

Sponsored by the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC), Respiratory Care Week (Oct. 23–29, 2022) recognizes respiratory therapists across the nation and helps bring awareness on respiratory health. In 1982 this observance was first created with the proclamation, “Chronic lung diseases constitute an important health problem in the United States. They afflict nearly 18 million Americans and cause nearly 70,000 deaths each year, many of which are the direct result of cigarette smoking.” Today, vaping and e-cigarettes have also been added to the list of harmful culprits impacting our society. 

Each day we are reminded of how grateful we are to our dental hygienists for all that they do! Their hard work in helping us all reach good oral health and overall wellness is invaluable. National Dental Hygiene Month was created by the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) and the Wrigley Oral Health Care Program (WOHP) to celebrate the amazing dental hygiene community nationally every October. There are over 200,000 dental hygienists in the United States working hard each day to keep our pearly whites sparkling and healthy.

With Halloween quickly approaching, many preparations are now in place. From Halloween costumes to pumpkin carvings, to decorations, and sweet treats, there’s a lot that goes into the day for those who celebrate. But we all know that Halloween can bring its own challenges when it comes to oral health. This isn’t to say that all the sugar should be taken away, but there are some tips to make Halloween safe and still fun for you and your family.