With Halloween around the corner, many are excited about a night of costumes and sweet treats. However, while candy is a highlight for most, it is a nightmare for your teeth.
Experts from the dental clinic Inglewood Family Dental warn about the most popular Halloween treats that could harm your smile.
Candy Corn, AKA Cavity Corn
Whether you love it or hate it, Candy Corn is a classic Halloween staple. However, this sticky treat can be damaging to your oral health. Candy Corn clings to your teeth longer than other treats, resulting in extended exposure to its high sweetness content; when stuck to a tooth for an extended period, this residue becomes more challenging to remove.
This contributes to the formation of cavities and can even lead to gum disease. A serving of Candy Corn consists of 19 pieces containing a whopping 28 grams of sugar—just 2 grams less than an adult’s recommended daily intake and 4 grams more than a child’s. That’s more than six teaspoons of sugar.
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups can erode your tooth enamel
When eating Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, you are not only treating yourself but also the bacteria in your mouth. These bacteria thrive on sugar, and with one serving containing 21 grams of sugar equating to consuming five teaspoons, bacteria can produce acids that erode tooth enamel, increasing your risk of cavities.
Jelly Babies: A Halloween favorite that haunts your teeth
Jelly Babies, like Candy Corn, can easily get lodged between your teeth, making them difficult to remove with regular brushing. Not to mention that just four Jelly Babies contain 20 grams of sugar—the equivalent of eating four teaspoons. The lingering sugary content feeds your mouth’s bacteria, leading to tooth decay. These chewy gummies are particularly risky for those with fillings, as they can pull them out.
Suck It Up: The sugary secrets of Fruity Pops
A Swizzels Fruity Pop is a treat you’ll likely find in your trick-or-treat bucket this Halloween. These lollipops, often included in trick-or-treat selection bags available at most supermarkets, are a popular choice for households stocking up on candy for trick-or-treaters. However, each lollipop contains six grams of sugar, equivalent to one and a half teaspoons, making up 75% of the confectionery.
Also, these treats expose your mouth to sugar for an extended period due to the time they take to consume. Essentially, by sucking on a sweet, you are giving your smile a “sugar bath,” which leaves them exposed to the sugary content for longer and increases the danger of tooth decay, not to mention the fact that these Fruity Pops are hard-boiled, giving them the potential to crack your teeth.
Haribo’s Hidden Harms
Introduced in 1995, a bag of Haribo Starmix is packed with various gummy treats, including fruit and cola-flavoured gummies in the shape of bears, rings, fried eggs, hearts, and cola bottles. Each serving contains 11.75 grams of sugar, equivalent to approximately 2.82 teaspoons.
However, the acids produced by sugary treats can cause significant damage to teeth. Sticky foods like gummies can accelerate the erosion of tooth enamel. Beyond the hazard of tooth decay, regularly eating gummies can harm your overall oral health. As the enamel wears away from continuous acid exposure, teeth become more fragile and prone to chipping or cracking. Reduced enamel also increases sensitivity to temperature changes, making teeth more susceptible to discomfort.
Sweet Treat, Sour Consequences: Candy Apples
Candy apples may be a delicious fall favorite, but they have hidden risks for your smile. Coated in a hard, sugary shell, each candy apple contains over 60 grams of sugar, more than double the recommended daily intake for adults and children.
The sticky coating clings to teeth, feeding harmful bacteria that produce acid and lead to tooth decay. Plus, biting into the hard shell can cause costly damage to those with dental work, particularly fillings or braces.
Arash Ravanbakhsh, an expert from the dental clinic Inglewood Family Dental commented: “While Halloween is a fun and festive time, it’s important to remember that many popular treats threaten oral health.
“Sugary, sticky candies like Candy Corn and gummies can cling to teeth and promote decay. Hard candies, such as Fruity Pops, not only bathe teeth in sugar for extended periods but can also lead to fractures. It’s crucial to practice moderation, always floss, and maintain a consistent oral care routine to protect your smile during the spooky season.
“If you experience any issues like a cracked tooth or lost filling, do not hesitate to schedule an appointment with an emergency dentist to prevent further complications.”
To counteract the effects of these sugary snacks, consider incorporating foods that are good for your teeth into your post-Halloween routine. Crunchy vegetables like carrots and celery help clean teeth naturally, while dairy products like cheese and yogurt provide calcium to strengthen enamel. Making smarter dietary choices can help protect your smile long after the trick-or-treating ends.