HAJERA ALI, a general dentist at Smile! Dental Boutique in New Jersey, the United States, has a sweet tooth just like the rest of us. “Gummy candy is probably one of the worst,” said Ali. “It sticks to your teeth and has to be chewed much more than other candy. The sugar is in contact with your teeth for a longer period of time, and sometimes it sticks in hard-to-clean areas like between your teeth.” “The worst Halloween candies are generally those that ‘stick with you’ for a long time and take a while to dissolve, particularly caramels and gummy-like candies,” said Joyce Kahng, cosmetic dentist and assistant professor at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC. Tacky candies like Starburst can pull on crowns and fillings. “These act like little sugar bombs that hang out in the hard to reach crevices of your teeth until they finally dissolve,” Kahng said. “Starburst derivatives, such as the Trader Joe’s version or Now and Laters, can also be tough on crowns and fillings by sticking to them and pulling at them.” While lollipops may not get stuck in between teeth, they do take a while to finish. “Lollipops are also sneaky. They are not as sticky, but the activity of eating them takes a long time,” Kahng said. “The longer someone spends eating candy, the longer the mouth is in an acidic state, so it is best to keep these activities as short as possible.” Sour powder candies are incredibly acidic. “It’s all about balance. Keeping the pH in your mouth close to neutral (seven) is the name of the game,” said Aaleeyah Alim, a Chicago-based dentist. “Water, which is neutral, has a pH of seven and battery acid has a pH of one. Your teeth start to decalcify, or break down, at a pH of four. Some of the worst candy for your teeth is Wonka Fun Dip, Pixy Stix powder and Now and Laters. The pH of those are all below two!” Kahng says that candies and gum made with the sugar alternative xylitol often still contain citric acid, which can damage tooth enamel. “Although these have reduced to no sugar, it can be argued that excessive gum chewing can result in faster wear of the enamel,” Kahng said. “I’ve also found that most xylitol candies are formulated with citric acid, which technically makes the candy sugar-free but acidic. People assume they are home free when choosing sugar-free candies, but an acidic pH can be just as bad when it comes to damaging the enamel.” Chocolate is a better Halloween candy option, according to Ali. “It can be eaten quickly, dissolves fast, and washes away from your teeth easily after brushing,” Ali said. To lessen the negative effects of sugary sweets on your teeth, Alim recommends eating candy in one sitting instead of nibbling on it throughout the day and swishing your mouth with water afterwards. “As a dentist, I let my patients know that you can enjoy candy responsibly and still have healthy teeth,” said Alim.(SD-Agencies) | 