(KNSI) — Dressing up as a favorite character for Halloween is fun, but everyone knows what kids are truly after. Candy!
Local dentist Dr. Ed Olson says there is no such thing as “good” candy, but sticky candy is the absolute worst. “It keeps the sugar on the tooth longer, and then the sugar is great food for the bacteria that you have in your mouth. That drops the pH, or makes more acid. The acidity demineralizes teeth and leads to decay.”
Lollipops are also terrible for teeth. They may not be acidic or sour, but like hard candies, they’re consumed slowly, and the sugars linger.
It may seem like a good idea, but Dr. Olson cautions against immediately brushing your teeth after eating candy because “if it’s kind of an acidic type candy, a bitter, tart candy, you should wait at least 30 minutes because the saliva washes that acidity away slowly, so then it’s safer. The acidity demineralizes the teeth, but the saliva will remineralize them and wash the acidity away over a period of about a half an hour.”
Other dentists we checked with said chocolate is safer as it can be eaten quickly due to its melty nature.
When you do consume the goods, rinse with water afterward to get the sugars and acids out of your mouth.
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