Even though trick-or-treating is going to look different this year, it still won't change how much candy your kids, or you, eat this year and the American Dental Association (ADA) has revealed the worst candy to eat for your teeth.
The ADA chose these candies because if you eat enough of them they can cause excess bacteria in your mouth that can create acid and eventually dissolve your tooth enamel, which causes cavities. Here are the worst offenders:
- Sticky candy - Candies like taffy and anything gummy linger on the teeth, which gives them more time to cause tooth decay. Caramels are in this group too and all of these can do damage to fillings, braces and orthodontic appliances.
- Sour candies - These are bad for teeth in two ways since they contain both sugar and acid. The acid breaks down tooth enamel, which is the hard outer shell that protects teeth.
- Lollipops - Like hard candies, these are meant to be enjoyed slowly, meaning teeth are exposed to sugar for a lot longer than they are with treats you chew quickly.
The bright side is that the ADA did say chocolates were okay to eat because it doesn't linger on your teeth as long so you now have the ADA's permission to eat as many Reese's, Kit-Kats, and Twix bars as you want this year!
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