Come Easter Sunday, your kids might be eager to dig into their baskets and eat all of their candy. With staples like Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs and Peeps and all the fun new treats, who can blame them? But while you might advise them to not eat it all at once, it may be best for their teeth if they at least eat their portions all at the same time rather than throughout the day.
According to Dr. Jeremy Krell, DMD and Director of Dental at quip (an online source for dental care products), timing is everything. "Frequent snacking on sugary sweets throughout the day will consistently expose teeth to sugar and create an acidic environment in the mouth, which can cause tooth decay," he said. "It's best to enjoy a sweet treat in one sitting, followed by brushing and flossing with an anti-cavity fluoride toothpaste."
The type of candy you choose—or ehem, the candy the Easter bunny chooses—matters as well.There are two types that should be avoided: sour candy and hard candy. Sour candies are very acidic, while hard candies can potentially harm teeth if bitten down on.
As for sticky candies like jelly beans or Starburst, these can also get stuck on and in-between teeth, so you should get in a good brushing after eating.
The best candy for your teeth (keep in mind, none are great here), is chocolate.Chocolate brushes off the teeth much easier than other candies."For example, a chocolate bunny would be a better option than Sour Patch Marshmallows due to its sour and sticky nature," Dr. Krell said.
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So, eat at your own risk, or at least get yourself a good toothbrush.