Westfield Health Bulletin: Be careful with Halloween candy to avoid dental problems

The excitement of putting on costumes and sweets is over. However, children happily rummage through their bags, buckets and bowls of candy and choose what to eat next. Like us, children will weed and avoid gross and unwanted candy.

When you become a parent, you focus on decayed teeth and dollar signs at the dentist. The motto “everything in moderation” applies to many aspects of life, including Halloween candy.

According to a recent report, here are the candies that are most harmful to your teeth: Jawbreakers, Jolly Ranchers, Bit-O-Honey, Starburst, Tootsie Roll, Laffy Taffy, Snickers, fireballs, Butterfingers, Blow Pops and Milk Duds. Others that get stuck in teeth include saltwater taffy, gummy candies, gummy bears, and lightheads.

It’s okay to eat candy from time to time, but too much candy will damage your teeth. Biting on hard or sticky candy can break a tooth or tear out a filling or crown. Sucking on hard candies and mints lowers the pH balance in the mouth and increases the risk of tooth decay due to the destruction of enamel. If you regularly consume too much candy, the enamel is destroyed and tooth decay forms. Candy can get stuck in the gums and cause abscesses.

It is recommended to consume sweets after meals, as this produces additional saliva, which naturally cleans the mouth. In addition, the longer you eat candy, the higher the risk of tooth decay. Experts recommend consuming it within 30 minutes. For all the chocolate lovers out there, the report notes that the chocolate dissolves quickly, you swallow it, and then the pH level of your saliva returns to normal. Another great thing about chocolate!

Of course, brushing and flossing your teeth is very important. Looks like you should do this right after you eat the candy. But dentists recommend waiting 30 minutes after eating to brush your teeth. Because the resulting acid temporarily weakens the enamel, brushing too early can damage the enamel when it is more susceptible. Half an hour will give your saliva time to naturally neutralize the acid and remineralize the enamel. Brushing immediately after brushing your teeth can introduce acid into your teeth, causing more harm than good. Additionally, some of the sugar particles may not have reached your teeth yet. Then wait at least 30 minutes before eating again to allow the normal flora in your mouth to protect your teeth and gums.

It would simply be unfair to take away all the candy from children. Limit their access and allow them to eat it in moderation. What can you do with all that leftover candy to protect your family’s dental health? Most candies are actually good for a year. Donate it to a local senior center, food pantry, Salvation Army and other organizations, church, or freeze it. Use it as an ice cream topping, baking ingredient, or as a blend. You can also donate candy to US soldiers or bring it to your workplace. Some dentists have a cash-for-candy program.

I have a friend whose thrifty New England parents used to freeze some of their Halloween candy and give it out throughout the year at trick-or-treaters and holidays.

You only have one set of adult teeth. Dental health is vital to your health. Children should learn early in life the importance of dental care. The damage starts early and cannot be undone.

All Hallows’ Eve is about carving pumpkins, not jack-o’-lanterns with missing teeth. You don’t have to give up the fun and candy of Halloween to teach this lesson. And it’s not just hocus pocus!

Take care of yourself and someone else.

Juanita Carnes is a Westfield resident and nurse practitioner with 38 years of experience in the emergency department and emergency departments. She served 30 years on the Westfield Board of Health.