Now that Halloween has ended, chances are you have a surplus of candy from a long night of trick-or-treating. While all your chocolate is probably eaten by now, there’s a good chance that you have many candies leftover that are high in sugar content, especially hard candy. Many of these candies don’t just put your teeth at risk of decay, but also cracking! A cracked tooth is considered a dental emergency, whether it’s a natural tooth or a restoration.
To learn which candies you should avoid to prevent emergencies, how to keep your teeth healthy, and what you should do if an emergency occurs, keep reading!
The Candies You Should Avoid
We’ve all given in to the urge of eating our favorite fruit-flavored hard candies before. The same goes for lollipops which carry a subtle, nostalgic charm to them. However, sucking and biting on these candies can be absolutely devastating to your oral health. Not only do these candies expose your teeth to sugar for long periods of time, but chewing on them will only wear down enamel more quickly. One moment you may be enjoying a watermelon- or grape-flavored hard candy, the next you’re clutching your mouth because your tooth just cracked.
With that said, all candies that require sucking on for long periods of time should be avoided at all costs if you want to provide optimal protection for your teeth and overall oral health.
Donating Leftover Candy and Protecting Teeth
Instead of keeping candy in your house and tempting yourself and your family members, consider donating it to Halloween Candy Buy Back groups in the area. These organizations typically partner with dental practices, but they also organize with businesses to exchange candy for oral hygiene kits, coupons and other items that are not harmful to oral health.
If you do happen to keep some candy, it’s very important that you only save it for after meals. Saliva production is generally much higher during and after eating a balanced meal. After eating, make an effort to brush afterwards, use mouthwash to strengthen enamel and chew sugar-free gum. Furthermore, chewing gum is a great alternative to eating hard candy in the first place and keeps saliva production high as well.
What to Do If an Emergency Occurs
In the event that your tooth cracks, whether it’s while eating hard candy or from something else, you’ll want to call an emergency dentist or schedule an appointment with them online. Emergency dentists are more likely to be open after regular business hours, so if you feel like something is not right inside your mouth, don’t hesitate to call. They can confirm exactly what damage has occurred and determine which treatment is the next best step to prevent future harm.
Don’t let a cracked tooth, severe sensitivity or a toothache ruin your day. Schedule an appointment with an emergency dentist in Lincoln to get your issue treated!
About the Author
Dr. Benjamin Gessford earned his DDS degree from Creighton University’s School of Dentistry. He’s prepared to help any and all individuals in the community treat dental emergencies when they occur and provide treatments that work to prevent them in the future. To learn more about his practice, get more tips on protecting teeth throughout the holidays or report a dental emergency, syou can contact him through his website or by calling (402)-420-2222.