Valentine’s Day is a holiday centered on love but the most common Valentine’s gift seem to involve candy and sweets which, in an ironic twist, can be somewhat harmful teeth. Did you know that Americans spend over 300 million dollars on Valentine treats each year and about 8 billion candy hearts are sold in the first two weeks of February? Wow! That’s a lot of candy and sugar and the hard sugary hearts are also very hard on our teeth.
We certainly encourage you to enjoy your treats on Valentine’s Day, but we bring a message of encouragement and a word of caution to help protect your teeth. We want you to keep your smiles beautiful and healthy and love your teeth as much as we sometimes love candy! Each time certain cavity causing bacteria, that constantly live in our mouths no matter what we do, comes into contact with the sugar in candy, it creates acid, which then attacks your teeth. This can lead to tooth decay which can lead to cavities, or destruction of the outer layer of enamel followed by the inner layer of dentin underneath the enamel that leads quickly to the tooth nerve chamber.
All candy contains sugar, but some are worse for our teeth than others. Hard candies don’t cling to your teeth like some soft and tacky candies do, but they come with their own set of problems. They can break teeth if bitten down upon before they shrink, and they dissolve more slowly in the mouth giving bacteria more time to create that harmful acid.
No candy is actually good for your teeth, but if you are going to indulge, we suggest dark chocolate. Compounds in cocoa found in dark chocolate can actually help harden tooth enamel. But of course, there is also sugar in these sweet treats. Also, chocolate can be washed away more readily than the harder, sticky candy. Probably the worst offenders include gummy candies, tootsie rolls, and lollipops.
So, while we certainly recommend avoiding these candies as much as possible, we hope that some of the tips contained here help you enjoy a happy and healthy Valentine’s Day from all of us at Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialist of Michigan!!!
About Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists of Michigan, the offices of Drs. Delaney, Plunkett, Ralstrom, Makowski, Thanasas, Ker, and Associates
Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists of Michigan have specialized in pediatric dentistry and orthodontics since 1968. Our family-friendly office gives patients and families a more comfortable and consistent experience with dentistry from the very beginning. The pediatric dentists treat children from newborn to 18 years of age while our orthodontists provide care for both children and adults, including being an Invisalign preferred provider. The ability to treat all special needs patients reaches beyond our facility, which has treatment rooms available for children who require additional privacy. Valued hospital affiliations allow dental services to be performed at DMC Children’s Hospital and St. John Macomb-Oakland Hospital when needed. Our specialists are also on staff at Henry Ford and Beaumont hospitals.
