Is Halloween Candy Dangerous For Your Teeth?

 Hope you all had a wonderful Halloween!

Keep in mind that this is the time of year for those candy-related dental emergencies. 

An article from Dr. Bicuspids Mesissa Busch lists the worst candies to eat!

"More than one-third of people in the U.S. experience candy-related dental problems, including damaged crowns, according to survey results. As people dig into Halloween treats today, they may want to shun treats most likely to torture teeth like Jawbreakers.

Jawbreakers, Jolly Ranchers, and Bit-O-Honey may be the most dangerous candy for teeth, but they aren’t the only varieties, according to a survey of 1,002 adults in U.S. conducted in late-August 2023 by Shiny Smile Veneers in Houston, TX.

The following candies were named the fourth through the 10th most dangerous:

4. Starburst
5. Tootsie Roll
6. Laffy Taffy
7. Snickers
8. Atomic Fireball
9. Butterfinger
10. Blow Pops and Milk Duds

Some of those that made the most dangerous list also were ranked as the candy that gets stuck in people's teeth the most, according to the results.

The following made the list of the stickiest candies:

1. Laffy Taffy
2. Bit-O-Honey
3. Tootsie Roll
4. Salt water taffy
5. Jolly Rancher
6. Milk Duds
7. Jelly beans
8. Gummi bears
9. Airheads
10. Starburst

Not only can avoiding candy protect teeth from cracked fillings and crowns and tooth pain and sensitivity, but it also can save patients money. People in the U.S. have spent $538, on average, fixing their teeth after experiencing a dental problem caused by eating candy, according to the results.

Additionally, parents reported taking other precautions during Halloween season. About 50% of parents admitted checking their kid’s candy to ensure it is free of things like razor blades and drugs, according to the findings. While checking their candy, 18% reported confiscating their favorite sweets for themselves. Meanwhile, 40% of parents reported taking away some of their kids' candy to prevent them from eating it, and another 21% threw away any leftover Halloween candy after a couple of weeks, according to the survey.

Furthermore, plenty of parents also ensure their children’s safety by blacklisting some types of candies. Parents’ least favorite candies for their kids to eat are Jawbreaker, Atomic Fireball, and Bit-O-Honey."

Top 15 Halloween Candies Your Dentist Wishes You Won't Eat!

With Halloween just around the corner, every year dentist offices across the country encounter a rush of patients experiencing Halloween candy-related dental emergencies!! No joke!! It's very common for patients to present themselves to the dental staff with crowns or bridges that have been pulled off, fillings that have been pulled out, teeth that have been chipped or cracked all by these innocent sweeties we consume every year!! I've compiled a list of the most common offenders that can be found in your candy bowl!

Top 5 Worst Culprits

(these are known to extricate crowns, bridges, and fillings with ease)

1. Sugar Daddy
2. Milk Duds
3. Dots
4. Bit-O-Honey
5. Good n' Plenty

Top 10 Accomplices

1. Jolly Rancher
2. Laffy Taffy
3. Caramel
4. Gummy Bears
5. Toffee
6. Tootsie Rolls
7. Sugar Babies
8. Now & Laters
9. Super Bubble Gum/ Dubble Bubble Gum
10. Slowpokes

There ya have it! For those of you who have any type of dental work done, watch out for these sneaky little candies...or you may find yourself in the dental chair bashfully blaming your missing filling on one of these sweet little criminals!

Have a Happy and Safe Halloween!

Original post by Dawn_DA  October 2009

Weird Dental Emergency Stories

Dental Emergencies are never fun when they happen to you but you will get a laugh out of some of these stories I found!

1. Garden in the mouth - One patient had a major toothache so the dentist ordered a root canal. When they were cleaning out the roots and gums the dentist found some seeds lodged into the gum and a tiny sprout was forming. It turned out to be a tomato plant!

2. Super glue gone wrong - One patient tried super gluing their crown back on and ended up sticking the wrong teeth together and got super glue all over the roof of their mouth and throat.

3. Hanging by a thread - Sometime people who neglect their teeth get a serious buildup of tartar and plaque that creates a bridge between the teeth and gums (calculus bridge). One patient tried to remove the bridge with furious brushing. After a few minutes, almost all their teeth fell out because the calculus bridge was the only thing holding them together.

4. Maggots anyone? - A small boy had  painful swollen gums so the parents took him to the dentist for the first time. During the examination the dentist found bunch of maggots inside the swollen gums.


I found these stories here!

Dealing With A Dental Emergency During The Holidays

Christmas is only 5 days away and nothing is worse than getting a toothache, losing a filling or crown and knowing the dentist is closed.

This can happen to anyone, anytime but it's best to be prepared. Below are some tips on how to survive holiday dental emergencies:

• Toothache - Brush and floss the area to make sure there are no food particles lodged underneath the gum line. If that doesn't work, try swishing warm salt water around in your mouth, do this 3 times a day and DO NOT swallow. Finally take some ibuprofen to help with the pain.
• Lost filling or crown - Try visiting a 24-Hour Pharmacy. In the dental isle you may find temporary dental filling material. This will seal up the hole until your able to see the dentist. 
• Abscess - This is the only time you should head to the emergency room for a dental emergency. If you have an abscess they will be able to provide you with the appropriate medication that will get you through until you can see the dentist. 

I like mentioned above, dental emergencies can happen at any time but the best way to help prevent these happening is by seeing your dentist for routine check ups every 6 months.