October 25, 2021
TORONTO, ON — Whether sugary or savoury, everyone has at least one favourite Halloween snack but just how good or bad is it for your teeth? Dentists know there’s going to be a lot of indulging in the coming days but hope everyone will try to be responsible about it. With that in mind, the Ontario Dental Association (ODA) is back to share the stone-cold truth on your Halloween treats and tips on how to avoid a dental nightmare.
Sugar candies can be broken down into two categories, hard or chewy, and both can do serious damage. It’s no surprise big jawbreakers can overwork jaw muscles and damage braces. They, along with other hard candies and lollipops can also chip or crack teeth if you bite down on them and because they dissolve slowly, they’re soaking your teeth in sugar. Chewy sweets, including dried fruit, can stick to teeth in hard to reach spots and damage dental work, like fillings.
Chocolates, as long as they’re plain, are one of the least harmful sweets you can treat yourself to this Halloween. That’s because they dissolve quickly in the mouth. Dark chocolate is especially good since research suggests its high number of polyphenols can actually help prevent tooth decay.
Salty snacks like chips and pretzels may seem like a safe bet but they can also get stuck between teeth and in the crevices and break down into cavity-causing sugars.
Treat time tips to help prevent dental damage try eating a proper meal first, swishing with water to clean out your mouth, chewing sugar-free gum and eating some nuts or cheese for a vitamin-rich protective coating on your teeth.
About the ODA
The ODA has been Ontario’s primary source for dental information since 1867 and represents over 10,000, or 90 per cent, of dentists in the province. For more dental care tips and COVID-19 updates, including what to expect at your next dental appointment, go to www.oda.ca.