Even if you enjoy eating healthy foods like I do, there are times when you just want to eat a couple of pieces of candy. However, if you do want to indulge in some sugary goodness there are types of candy that are actually better for you than others. If you don’t want to destroy your oral health, here are a couple of tips to help you prevent cavities while still enjoying your favorite sweets.

Best

• Sugar Free Gum/Candy – If you’re really craving something sweet, try a piece of sugar free gum or candy. This is better for you, because sugar free gum that contains Xylitol helps neutralize acids that are bad for your teeth and actually stimulates saliva production.
• Chocolate – Chocolate isn’t that bad for your teeth if you eat it quickly or choose a piece of dark chocolate. Stay away from chocolates that have flavored fillings inside because those fillings make the chocolate chewy, which can stick to your teeth creating cavities.

Worst

• Hard Candy – This is bad for your teeth because these candies linger in your mouth for long periods of time. They also coat your teeth in sugar and are bad for your teeth if you bite into them.
• Chewy/Gummy Candy – These types of candies are the worst for your teeth because they are sugary and cling to every nook and cranny in your mouth. Anything that is made with sugar and is sticky, will get stuck to your teeth and be hard to clean off.

Tips

• If you are going to eat a couple of sweets, try to do it after you eat a meal.
• Don’t eat too much candy throughout the day, try to only eat a piece occasionally.
• Make sure to rinse after you eat any candy or if you can, brush and floss to remove all the residue that can cause cavities.
• If you’re celebrating Halloween you can always handout small toys or stickers instead of candy.

Remember to always take care of your teeth and practice good oral hygiene. Contact Greenspoint Dental if you have any dental questions or need to schedule an appointment. We’d Love to hear from you!