Halloween Warning

While your kids are running around the neighborhood you maybe trailing behind, waiting for the moment where you can steal your favorite piece or two. You may want to stop yourself. In a fun size package of M & M’s there are ninety-three calories and ten grams of sugar. “While you’re savoring the chocolate yumminess, your teeth are holding on to the sugar, and your hips, the calories,” says Dr. Denine Rice.  If you think you’re going to eat just one, you may be lying to yourself because on average, adults will consume around 24 pounds of candy during Halloween.  

One or two pieces of candy are not going to cause harm. However, if you do not brush your teeth right away the sugar will begin to turn into bacteria and acid that eats at the enamel of your teeth.   Some recent research suggests that you should wait at least thirty minutes before brushing after eating. However, waiting until late into the evening or not brushing at all gives the acid in food the fuel it needs to attack the enamel.

To help protect your teeth from sugar brush your teeth before you plan to eat. This will remove any bacteria that are currently on your teeth and brush soon after you consume sugar to remove the acid from your teeth. While keeping candy in a large bag may seem easier, if you are prone to grabbing one or two pieces of candy each time you enter the kitchen, place a few pieces in different locations. For example, place some in the refrigerator, a small amount in the freezer and some in the cupboard.