“Eating candy or other sugary, starchy foods and leaving that food on your teeth is what will rot your teeth,” Bob Glissmann, a staff writer for the Omaha World-Herald, writes. This is an important clarification to an issue misunderstood by most people. It’s not so much what you eat that determines whether you get cavities; it’s how you take care of your teeth.
When you eat anything starchy or sugary, your saliva starts to break the substance down immediately, creating acids that can deteriorate the enamel on your teeth, and if left alone can cause cavities. The best way to reduce the likelihood of cavities is to:
- Rinse your mouth with water after eating to remove as much acid and residual food as possible.
- Brush and floss after each meal, as well as in the morning and evening.
- If you have children, supervise their tooth brushing. Many kids lack the dexterity to brush well on their own, so it pays to sit with them through this exercise.
So the bottom line on candy is to enjoy it in moderation, and then brush your teeth. The same guidelines go for sugary drinks. Enjoy, then take care of your teeth.
If you still want to get rid of that leftover Halloween candy, follow Susan’s advice of getting in touch with Soldiers’ Angels or else call your dentist. Many dentists are participating in candy buy-back programs. It could get your child a few dollars for his pocket and often the candy is given to a good cause, such as homeless shelters or troops overseas.
Plush Teeth by abductos.
