You don’t have to skip the treats—a few simple habits can help protect your teeth through candy season.
Halloween may end on Oct. 31, but somehow the candy bowl always survives well into November. The good news? You don’t have to swear off every chocolate bar in the house to take care of your teeth.
The team at South Strand Dental, which has cared for Grand Strand families from its Surfside Beach office since 1981, knows that a few small choices about what you eat—and when you eat it—can make a difference.
Here are five ways to make candy season a little easier on your teeth.
1. Reach for Chocolate First
If you’re choosing between treats, plain chocolate can be a better option than candy that sticks around long after you eat it.
Chocolate generally clears from the teeth more easily than gummies, caramel or taffy. Dark chocolate may also contain less sugar than milk chocolate, depending on the variety.
2. Be Careful With Sticky Candy
Gummies, caramels and taffy tend to cling to teeth, which means sugar can linger longer.
That is especially worth considering if you have braces or dental work. Follow any guidance your dentist has given you about foods that may be better to avoid.
3. Don’t Let Sour Candy Fool You
Sour candies combine sugar with acids that can wear on tooth enamel. Hard candies can also stay in your mouth for a long time, and biting down on one can potentially chip a tooth.
Enjoy them occasionally, but they probably shouldn’t become your all-day snack.
4. Eat Your Treats With a Meal
How often you snack can matter just as much as what you choose.
Instead of reaching into the candy bowl throughout the day, pick a favorite or two and enjoy them with a meal or shortly afterward. Following your treat with water is another simple habit, especially after a Halloween party or a long evening of trick-or-treating.
5. Keep Your Regular Dental Routine
Continue brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and cleaning between your teeth daily. After especially sour or acidic candy, rinse with water and wait about an hour before brushing.
Once Halloween is over, consider letting everyone choose their favorites rather than keeping an overflowing candy stash within reach for weeks.
Keep Your Smile in Check With South Strand Dental
South Strand Dental offers family and preventive dentistry, including cleanings and personalized guidance for patients of all ages. If it’s time for a checkup or you have questions about your family’s dental routine, visit southstranddental.com or call 843-238-5111.
South Strand Dental is located at 1616 Azalea Drive in Surfside Beach.
