A Seasonal Reminder of Candy’s Hidden Oral Hazards
As Halloween fills operatories with chatter about sweets, oral health professionals are reminded that sticky, sour, and hard candies pose some of the greatest risks to enamel integrity and restorative longevity. While moderation and proper hygiene are key messages for patients, clinicians can use this season to reinforce the oral-systemic implications of frequent sugar and acid exposure.
Each Halloween, the discussion around candy and caries resurfaces, but for clinicians, this annual indulgence offers an opportunity for education. Sticky candies, such as caramels and taffy, adhere to occlusal surfaces and interproximal areas, prolonging sugar contact and promoting acidogenic bacterial activity. Sour varieties are particularly harmful, combining citric and malic acids with sugars that demineralize enamel and challenge saliva’s buffering capacity.
Hard candies add mechanical risk, with potential for enamel fracture or restoration damage. When counseling patients, emphasize moderation and timing, consuming candy with meals rather than as frequent snacks, followed by water to dilute acids. Encourage patients to wait 30 minutes before brushing to prevent abrasion of softened enamel. Beyond caries prevention, reinforcing these small behavior modifications can support long-term oral and systemic health. Click here to read more.
