Kids, Candy & Dental Health

Holidays like Halloween, Christmas, and Easter bring extra candy and homemade goodies along with them. Sadly, the bacteria in your child’s mouth are always ready to start producing the acid that contributes to cavities—but candy still can be enjoyed in moderation! Bellevue dentist, Dr. Mack has the skinny on some common types of holiday candy:

• Chocolate is one of the most popular candies no matter what the occasion, and it’s one of the safest for your child’s teeth—it’s more conducive to good oral hygiene because it washes off teeth fairly easily. An added bonus: dark chocolate has less sugar than milk chocolate.

• Sticky and gummy candies are one of the worst types of candy for your teeth—sorry, we know how yummy they taste! Since they are harder to remove from the teeth, the bad bacteria have more time to cause damage.

• Hard candy needs to be enjoyed with great care. Biting down on hard candy can break teeth, and their sugary contents mingle with the saliva. Since hard candy tends to be held in the mouth longer, bacteria have more opportunity to congregate and cause problems.

• Sour candy can be very acidic, and that acidity can weaken tooth enamel.

• Popcorn balls are brought out at many holiday parties, but keep floss handy—they’re yummy, but also sugary and sticky. 

Developing a habit of rinsing your mouth with water after sugary treats is a good practice for kids from 2 to 122. If you have any questions about pediatric oral hygiene and dental health, get in touch with Family Dentistry of Bellevue today.

The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.