Hot Take: It’s Better to Binge Your Halloween Candy Even Dentists Approve!
Forget what you’ve been told about eating your family’s leftover Halloween candy piece by piece and stretching it out for months. If you’re only thinking about your teeth, the best way to get through your treats is in a single night’s binge.
Why? Well, because of the way our saliva works.
Now, Back to Candy Why does all of this mean you should binge Halloween candy? Well, if you eat all of your candy at once, you’ll limit the amount of time the sugar- turned-acid hangs out on your teeth. Think about it. If you eat all of your candy in one hour on Halloween night, then rinse your mouth with water and brush your teeth, your enamel will be in danger for a few hours at most. But if you have one piece of candy every few hours for months … that’s literally days of erosion! Gobbling all of your candy is the way to go. Now, keep in mind that this advice is ONLY better for your teeth. Eating an entire bag of candy isn’t a great choice for your stomach or overall health. As a compromise, consider choosing your favorite 5–10 candies and enjoying them in one sitting, then passing on the rest of your treats. Win-win.
Your Mouth on Sugar Right now, the saliva in your mouth is full of a type of bacteria called streptococcus mutans. We know, we know — it’s gross. But it’s also fascinating! These bacteria are usually harmless, but they love to eat sugars and starches. That means they basically have a party when you pop a piece of Halloween candy in your mouth. They gobble up the sugar and turn it into something else: acid. The Acid Problem The sugar-to-acid process doesn’t seem too terrible on the surface. After all, plenty of things that are good for you have acid in them, like orange juice! But when acid sits on your teeth for too long, it can start to wear away the protective enamel. This turns your teeth yellow and can even cause cavities. The longer your teeth are covered in acid, the worse the results.
3 WAYS TO STOP GRINDING YOUR TEETH — WITHOUT A MOUTHGUARD
Have You Tried Them All?
If you regularly wake up with a sore jaw and painful headaches, then you might be clenching your teeth while you sleep. This is actually a dangerous problem you should address right away. Too much clenching and grinding can wear down your teeth or even break them, ruining your smile! So, what can you do? Mouthguards are a classic tool to prevent grinding, but they can also be a pain in the butt. You have to buy one, take it in and out every night, and remember to bring it with you on vacation. If your grinding issue doesn’t seem urgent, you may want to try these Mayo Clinic-approved natural remedies before booking an appointment with your dentist.
2. Reduce your intake of alcohol and caffeine. A 2016 study found that drinking alcohol almost doubles your chance of grinding your teeth! Coffee has an even worse effect, boosting the odds by 150%. If you cut down on these things, you might sleep better and grind less. 3. Practice good sleep hygiene. To do this, you’ll need to develop habits that promote better sleep, like going to bed and waking up at the same time each day; getting the recommended 7–9 hours of rest; sleeping in a dark, quiet place; and keeping electronics out of the
bedroom. All of these things will help you get quality, grind-free sleep. You can find more details at CDC.gov/sleep. If you’re still in pain after trying these natural options — or if the state of your teeth is deteriorating — schedule a visit
1. Eliminate sources of stress. Stress and anxiety while you’re awake can lead to grinding while you
sleep. To improve your state of mind, try to delegate some of your responsibilities, take up a calming hobby like yoga or meditation, or build a relaxing
to your dentist right away. In the office, you’ll learn about the best option for you, whether that’s a mouthguard or something more permanent, like dental correction to repair and reshape your teeth.
bath into your nightly routine. If your stress is affecting other areas of your life, you might also consider seeing a mental health professional for help.
2 • WWW.GREATSMILESNJ.COM
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