The Impact of Chowing Down on Halloween Candy
It’s Halloween! If you are like most households in the United States, you have a bowl or two (or three or four) of candy at the ready to hand out to trick-or-treaters. Even if your kids don’t go to door anymore, chances are there will be a sharp increase in the number of sugary sweets you are consuming in your household for at least the next week. Even when the Halloween candy is gone, the holiday season has arrived and there are plenty more sweets where those came from. So what’s the impact of all that sugar?
How Sugar Affects Your Teeth
It’s not necessarily the sugar itself that damages your teeth. But sugar does feed the bacteria that are naturally found in your mouth. When these bacteria start to feed on the sugars in your sweets, they begin to produce acid that eats away at the enamel of your teeth. The enamel is the thin, tough outer shell of your teeth that protect the crown and the root that’s inside of your tooth. Sugary sweets can also leave behind a lot of residue in your mouth, which feeds the bacteria for longer periods of time.
What You Can Do to Prevent Damage
Ideally, it’s best to leave the candy alone, but we know that’s hard to do (we couldn’t do it, either!). Instead, simply limit the number of sweets you and your family members are consuming on a daily basis. Make candy an unusual treat. It’s not just your teeth that will thank you! Sugar is tied to weight gain, irritability, and other health problems. If you do consume it, make sure you brush your teeth soon after. Be diligent about brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and consider adding a rinse into your routine for extra safety.
What To Do When the Damage Has Been Done
If you are already seeing the effects of candy and sweets on your teeth or the teeth of a family member, it’s time to consider cosmetic dentistry. Our Austin dentist doesn’t just take care of your teeth but helps them look as healthy as possible, too. Through the use of crowns, implants, bridges and other cosmetic dentistry devices, we can help you get back a smile that you are proud to show off. If your smile needs some attention, get in touch with our team today. Give us a call or contact us through our website to make an appoinment.