During the holidays, people consume more candy than usual, which can result in cavities and other dental problems. Though we all feel tempted to reach for our favorite sweets this season, it’s important to know which candies are the most damaging to our teeth. This blog post will go over candies to avoid, and how to consume candy more safely.

Gummy Candy

Gummy candy is sticky, meaning that it sticks to the teeth for a longer period of time compared to other types of candy. The longer that candy stays on the teeth, the more time the bacteria have to break down the enamel and cause cavities. Really sticky candy can even pull out fillings and crowns (time for an emergency dental visit!).

Hard Candy

As stated above, the longer that sugar stays on teeth, the more time it has to cause cavities. Hard candies stay in the mouth until they are fully dissolved. The teeth are bathed in a mix of saliva and sugar – a recipe for cavities! Additionally, hard candies can even crack teeth if you decide to crunch on them. Try to avoid mints, candy canes, and lollipops.

Sour Candy

Sour candies can come in both gummy and hard varieties, but all of them are bad for your teeth. Soft sour candy tends to be coated with sugar, while hard sour candies stay in the mouth for a while until you are able to swallow them. What make sour candies even worse is that they are incredibly acidic. Normally, the bacteria in the mouth consume sugar, and then produce acid which breaks down the tooth. However, the acidity in sour candies skips past those steps and directly weakens and damages the hard outer shell of the teeth, so that bacteria can jump right in and cause trouble.

What Candy Can I Eat?

Though all candies are bad for your teeth, chocolate is one of the better ones. Chocolate isn’t hard or sticky, so it stays in your mouth for a shorter period of time and it washes off the teeth pretty easily. Dark chocolate has less sugar than milk chocolate, and chocolate bars with nuts can even break up any stickiness inside of the bar. You can also opt for sugarless and sugar-free options to further protect your teeth.

How Do I Protect My Teeth?

Remember to eat candy in moderation, and to not continuously snack throughout the day. Eating your candy along with a meal is better because your mouth will have produced more saliva, which flushes away the sugar and acid. If you can’t brush or floss after eating candy, drink water to help wash away some of the leftover sugar. Most importantly, maintain your regular dental hygiene routine to keep your teeth nice and strong!