Save Your Pearly Whites During National Candy Month

Jamye Lott
Registered Dental Hygienist
Lake Texoma Dental Care & Wellness

June is National Candy Month! Dental professionals cringe at the thought of a whole month dedicated to those, sugar laden, cavity causing, confectionary delights. Now don’t get me wrong, It’s OK to have candy now and then. Just choose your candy wisely, and don’t gorge.

High quality chocolate is a good place to start. The chocolate typically found contains very little cacao, which is the basic ingredient in chocolate. The mass marketed chocolate is usually high in sugar and saturated fats. It’s not good for your body, or your teeth. High quality chocolate is made from cacao beans, which have tannins, and polyphoneols which can stop the development of bacteria in the mouth and plaque. Always choose dark chocolate without too much sugar. Now you can enjoy your Chocolate.

You can also choose sugar free candies. Xylitol is a popular sweetener used in sugar free candy. Xylitol has been shown to inhibit the growth of the oral bacteria that causes cavities.

If you don’t want to buy in to the hype of National Candy Month, choose other snacks and goodies like, nuts, string cheese, pretzels, or chips. Although, these can still be considered junk food, it’s still better than candy loaded with sugar.

No matter what you choose to snack on, you should always follow good dental hygiene. Prevention is still the #1 way to avoid cavities.

The American Dental Association recommended tooth decay prevention techniques for adults and children are,

• Bruch at least twice daily with toothpaste containing fluoride, and floss teeth.
• Eat well-balanced meals with limited sugar and starch intake.
• Visit you r dentist twice a year for cleanings and oral examinations.
• Consider having your dentist apply dental sealants. Sealants are a coating that protects the enamel, to the chewing surfaces of your teeth.

Now take these suggestions, schedule your tooth cleaning, and enjoy National Candy Month!!!!!