With kids having an abundance of candy and treats following Halloween night, parents will have to monitor what their kids will be consuming.
Candy may not necessarily be the best thing for your teeth, but there are some treats that can help children lessen the damage to their teeth.
According to pediatric dentist Dr. Jamie Greenspoon, the worst kind of candies are ones that are sticky such as Tootsie Rolls and Laffy Taffy.
“These get stuck in your teeth and can last forever,” Greenspoon said.
Lollipops are next on the list of worst candies to eat followed by gummy candies such as licorice and Sour Patch Kids, according to Greenspoon.
The least harmful candy to consume for your teeth is chocolate, Greenspoon says.
“It takes them a few seconds to eat it and then it’s gone relatively quickly,” Greenspoon said.
There are also myths associated with keeping your teeth clean.
One of those is spreading out candy intake over the course of an entire day.
“A lot of parents think I’m going to spread my kids’ junk or sugar intake throughout the day and that’s actually wrong,” Greenspoon said.
She noted that it’s better to eat a limited amount of candy in one sitting to help reduce their chances of getting cavities.
Some parents also think that having kids brush their teeth immediately after eating candy is beneficial, but that can be harmful.
Instead kids should drink water and wait approximately 20 to 30 minutes before brushing and flossing their teeth.
Another tip that Greenspoon points out is to eat something like a candy apple that combines sugar with something more healthy, which makes for a better alternative for your teeth.
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