Trick-or-Treat, Brush your Teeth!

Never mind the haunted houses, scary costumes and horror-movie reruns. The really scary thing about Halloween is the abundance of enamel-bashing candy. Don’t bother to look over your shoulder- it’s everywhere. San Antonio dentist Dr. John Moore issues a warning to be careful, and make sure that you protect your teeth!
The horror starts weeks beforehand, as moms stock up the shelves and cabinets in preparation for the big day. Of course these huge bags of candy often grow small holes, as candy creeps stealthily into family pockets. Then of course there is the big day, where candy of every possible color and flavor leaps from desks, store counters and any imaginable hiding place. It is a complete, over-the-top enamel attack. Teeth beware!
We consulted renowned sugar-buster Dolores Fales, dental hygienist extraordinaire who shared her advice on how to tackle these Halloween horrors. Dolores told us “Brush and floss daily and limit the amount of candy eaten. Try and opt for sugar free candies. They taste much worse and you naturally just eat less. Sticky candy, like gummy bears are less likely to be washed out from between the teeth with saliva. Hard and crunchy candies can damage dental work. Be vigilant and carry a box of floss throughout the day for emergency use.”
Dolores also crushed an often-used loophole when she stated that “caramel coated fruit is just as aggressive as regular candy and has to be consumed in moderation.” Fales says, “Candy is just not good for your oral health and can lead to tooth decay. Limiting your candy intake to 250 calories one or two times a week is acceptable as long as you are brushing and flossing your teeth on a daily basis.” (For those who don’t normally count, 250 calories is like eating a Snickers bar but you have to give your dog the last bite).
At least Halloween is only once a year. The rest of the year the candy is confined to the check out line and locked up in gas stations. Phew!
Dolores Fales credits her achievements as Senior Sugar Buster to her childhood experiences. “I used to love Now and Later candies. I was on vacation eating one and suddenly, I felt my crown come off my tooth. I pulled the candy out of my mouth and discovered my crown, now firmly glued into the candy. Whoops. My mother was not very happy and needless to say, that was the last time I ate Now and Later candy.”
So from all of us at Cosmetic Dental Associates: Have a great Halloween Eat the food and have a great day But when the day is done Throw the left over candy away!