NAIT expert sees no reason to be afraid – unless we fail to follow her advice
Now, we don't want to take the fun out of halloween, but you have to admit that this scenario sounds like a horror show in miniature.
Our scary story begins with our teeth, unaware, happily going about their business of chewing up whatever comes their way.
Then, one day, everything changes.
Like a full moon turns an unsuspecting person into a werewolf, sugar can transform bacteria in the mouth into tiny terrors. As their Oct. 31 feeding frenzy ensues, they can torture the teeth by producing acid that eats away at their skin (a.k.a. enamel), the suffering lasting as long there are goodies in the trick-or-treat back.
Scary stuff, right? Right?
OK, fine. Dental Assisting instructor Sherry Sand (class of ’85) doesn't necessarily think so either – if kids (and moms and dads) simply take the appropriate measures.
“They can enjoy it,” she says. “They just need to know how to take care of their teeth.”
With some treats, that may involve a little extra work. Here, Sand explains how one sugary snack might have more “evil” powers than the next – and shares the silver bullet that will ensure a happy Halloween for teeth and trick-or-treater alike.
A rotten ranking
Sugar content doesn’t vary much from one type of junk food to the next, Sand points out. What differs is how those snacks interact with teeth. If she were to rank candy categories from, say, Frankenweenie to The Exorcist, that might look like this.
Gum
“Of course, sugar free is recommended,” says Sand.
That said, even real sugar in gum won’t be in contact with teeth for the prolonged periods required for damage.
Nuts
Plain nuts contain little sugar, though pieces can remain stuck to tooth surfaces like chips.
Chocolate
When not combined with caramel or other sticky things, chocolate on its own – isn’t so bad, as it doesn’t remain in contact with teeth for long.
Potato chips
These starchy treats are end up stuck in the pits and fissures in teeth where they are easily converted to sugar, then acid.
Hard candies
While these don’t hold sugar against tooth surfaces, Sand still advises that eaters be careful with them.
“If they’re biting on the hard candies we can have teeth breakage.”
Sticky stuff
Because they hold sugar directly against the tooth, sticky treats such as caramel are the most nefarious cavity causers. Even dried fruits such as raisins are cause for concern.
“We all think of that as a healthy snack,” says Sand. Not necessarily.
Save the day (and the teeth)
Rather than let kids introduce sugar to the teeth throughout the day, encourage them to save Halloween snacks for dessert, after which they can brush.
If brushing isn’t going to happen right away, rinse with water to wash away residual sugar. Eating an apple will also naturally clean teeth. Cheese is another option. Studies show it can raise the pH level in the mouth above those that enable tooth decay. Other compounds in cheese may also keep teeth safe from cavity-causing acid.
Better brushing techniques
Your best defense against the aftermath of Halloween is proper cleaning technique. “If you are going to indulge, make sure you brush and floss,” says Sand. Here’s a refresher.
- It should take two minutes to brush your teeth
- Place bristles at the gum line, vibrate the bristles back and forth, then roll up or down with the biting direction of the teeth
- Don't forget molar surfaces
- Everything you heard recently about not having to floss? Forget about it. “Flossing is still very important,” says Sand. “Nice try.”