Valentine’s Day is a day for love, so don’t let cavities ruin all the fun! How does this happen you might ask? The bacteria in your mouth also like to indulge in the sugars in those candies. They then produce a weak acid, which can cause cavities! Below you will read what Valentine’s Day treats to be on the lookout for.
You don’t have to cancel your plans over that, just make sure to brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and floss daily! For all of our friends that are Trick or Treating this year, here’s a list of candies and what effect they might have on your teeth.
Chocolate
Chocolate will be your best bet as your rummage through your loot for the night. Chocolate is also one of the most popular treats to hand out! This creamy goodness is pretty quick to wash off your teeth as opposed to other types of candy. Going one step further, dark chocolate also has less sugar than milk chocolate, so maybe gravitate towards the dark.
Hard Candy
These are the ones to look out for. Some people have even broken a tooth biting into hard candy in the past! These types of candy also tend to spend more time in the mouth, resulting in the sugar getting in your saliva and spreading all around your teeth.
Sticky and Gummy Candies
An easy saying to remember on this one: be picky if it’s sticky. This kind of candy can be much harder to remove and leave traces for extended periods of time. This gives cavities more time to do their damage. Sticky candies also have a reputation for pulling out fillings.
Sour Candy
You probably would be better to pass on the candies that make you pucker. Sour candy can be pretty acidic, weakening and damaging your teeth’s surface, making you more prone to getting a cavity.
Steps following your Halloween
1. Make sure to brush your teeth along with your kiddos twice a day
2. Floss daily
3. Schedule your routine dental cleanings twice a year.
Happy Valentine’s Day from all of us here at River Valley Smile Center. Don’t forget to give us a call today to schedule your routine cleaning after all those yummy Valentine’s Day treats!
