The Most Common Candy-Related Dental Issues During Halloween Season

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11 months ago

October 23, 2023

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Share on Pinterest A new report lists the most dangerous Halloween candy for your teeth and the six most common dental issues they can pose. Kosamtu/Getty ImagesCandy is all the rage on Halloween, but a new report shows what it can do to your teeth.The report uncovers the most dangerous candy in America for tooth health, and which candy parents hate most.Dentists explain how to get your sweet fix without damaging your teeth and gums.

Sure, Halloween is about dressing up in costumes and embracing all things scary, but for a lot of kids (and adults), the holiday is really all about the candy.

As good as a bag full of treats can taste, they often come with a cost dental issues.

In fact, one report by Shiny Smiles Veneers showed that 35% of Americans have suffered from candy-related dental issues.

I think its important to make good choices when it comes to what we eat and a candy treat from time to time is ok, however, daily, and frequent consumption of candy will eventually have negative consequences to our teeth, requiring dental treatment, Kristin Lenz Galbreath, DMD, owner of Union Grove Family Dental in Wisconsin, told Healthline. 6 candy-related dental issues to keep in mind this Halloween

The report identified the following as the most common dental issues caused by candy.Teeth sensitivity

Bacteria in the mouth can metabolize simple carbohydrates (sugar), and in turn, lower the overall pH in your mouth, creating an acidic environment, said Amy Sliwa Lies, DDS, owner of FiveSix Family Dental in Illinois.

An acidic environment can erode the enamel on your teeth, making them more sensitive and more susceptible to decay, she told Healthline.

Also, even when sugar is not metabolized, it can cause sensitivity on areas without enamel.

The way your teeth feel is through tiny little tubules in the dentin layer of the tooth. These tubules have fluid in them. The fluid expands and contracts in response to hot, cold, sweets, etcetera, and this is interpreted by the nerve of the tooth, contained, along with tiny blood vessels, in the pulp of the tooth, said Lies.

People with gum recession are commonly sensitive to sugar, added Lenz Galbreath.

Additionally, a common complaint for a tooth that already has a cavity is sensitivity to sweets, she said.Tooth pain

If candy causes damage to the teeth, fillings, or crowns, this can cause pain.

Biting into a tooth and cracking it can be very painful. A cracked tooth that is cracked into the nerve or root of the tooth is extremely painful, said Lenz Galbreath.Damaged fillings and crowns

If candy is sticky, it can pull out a piece of filling or pull off a crown, and if it is very hard, it can break a filling or a tooth, said Lies.

After repeated exposure to candy and the oral bacteria digesting the sugar into acid and eroding the enamel, tooth decay can form. While it doesnt directly harm the filling material this way, the decay can form at the margin of the filling or crown (the edge where tooth meets filling/crown), she said.Chipped or cracked tooth

Lenz Galbreath often sees patients months after they have broken a tooth.

A patient will know they cracked or chipped a tooth when eating but it doesnt hurt, so the patient does not see the dentist right away, she said. However, a few months later it will start hurting because a cavity has developed on the tooth or there is a nerve exposure.

This is problematic because a cracked or chipped tooth has lost its outer layer, the enamel, and the cavity progresses at a faster rate, increasing the likelihood for more treatment, such as a root canal or crown, Lenz Galbreath explained.Jaw discomfort

Chewing hard or sticky candies puts added stress and work on the temporomandibular joints (TMJ), which are the two joints that connect the lower jaw to the skull.

Repeated candy chewing will lead to pain and inflammation to the TMJ and muscles, said Lenz Galbreath.

Hyperextending or opening the jaw wide to eat large candy can also cause discomfort.Gum infection

While the report did not mention gum infection, Lies said the most common candy-related issue she sees is little pieces of candy getting caught under the gums and not being removed by floss.

Sometimes it will stay wedged under the gums, usually between teeth, and then can create a periodontal abscess (localized infection in the gums), she said. The most dangerous candy for your teeth

The report found the following candy to be the most dangerous for teeth.JawbreakerJolly RancherBit-O-HoneyStarburstTootsie RollLaffy TaffySnickersAtomic FireballButterfingerBlow Pops and Milk Duds

Parents noted that they hate Jawbreaker the most when it comes to candy.

I agree these candies are either harder than or stickier than any other natural or healthy food options, said Lenz Galbreath. Biting into one of these hard or sticky candies can break a tooth and cause severe tooth pain.

Sucking on hard candy or a mint every hour isnt a good idea, either.

Doing that, you are basically keeping the pH lowered all day and setting yourself up for decay, said Lies.

When it comes to candy that gets stuck in Americans teeth most often, the report found the following to be the biggest culprits:Laffy TaffyBit-O-HoneyTootsie RollSalt Water TaffyJolly RancherMilk DudsJelly BeansGummy BearsAirHeadsStarburst

Any hard candy or sticky candy that stays in the mouth for a long time can cause damage.

Part of the equation for causing cavities is how long the pH is lowered. A piece of chocolate dissolves quickly and you swallow it and then your saliva works to return the oral environment to a normal pH, said Lies. Hard and sticky candies that remain in your mouth a long time keep the pH lowered for longer, thus eroding the enamel more. When you eat candy, here is the best way to do it

According to the report, parents prioritize the following when it comes to their kids Halloween candy:55% check their candy for razor blades, drugs, glass, and other harmful stuff40% take some candy so their kids dont eat as much21% throw their candy out after a couple of weeks18% take the candy they want first

When indulging in the candy loot, Lenz Galbreath said it is best to eat it with a meal or right after a meal because the body makes additional saliva during this time in order to break down food and naturally cleanse the mouth.

Additionally, when eating foods, especially sugary foods, it is best to consume the food in less than 30 minutes and not eat the food for a long period of time. Reintroducing sugar to our teeth repeatedly increases the risk for cavities, she said.

While brushing or flossing is a great move, Lenz Galbreath said hold off from doing so for 30 minutes after eating, and then once you brush or floss, wait to eat for at least an hour.

This allows our saliva and the good bacteria to do its job of naturally protecting our teeth and gums, she said.

Lies says stick to moderation when it comes to candy.

Have a piece of candy, then be done. Get your pH back to normal as soon as possible by drinking water or brushing your teeth. Fluoride in the water or toothpaste can bind to the little eroded spots in the enamel and arrest/reverse the process, she said.

Sports

Sources: Nats demote All-Star after all-nighter

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2 hours ago

September 21, 2024

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Sources: Nats demote All-Star after all-nighter

Jeff Passan, ESPNSep 21, 2024, 01:47 PM ET
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The Washington Nationals demoted All-Star shortstop CJ Abrams to the minor leagues after he stayed out all night at a Chicago-area casino, leaving only hours before a Friday day game against the Chicago Cubs, sources told ESPN’s Jesse Rogers.

The 23-year-old Abrams led off for the Nationals and went 0 for 3 with a walk and strikeout in Friday’s game, which started at 1 p.m. CT. He was informed of the demotion Friday night, sources said. He will be sent to West Palm Beach, home of the Nationals’ minor league complex.

Because Abrams has been with Washington for the entirety of the season, the demotion will not affect his service time. Players earn a full year of service with 172 days on the major league roster, and Abrams already has exceeded that threshold.

Abrams could, however, file a grievance through the Major League Baseball Players Association to fight for lost pay if he believes the demotion unjust. He would lose around $30,000 of his $752,000 salary for missing the season’s final week. Abrams will be arbitration-eligible this winter, entering the system for the first of four times as a Super 2.

Acquired as one of the centerpieces of the Juan Soto trade two years ago, Abrams parlayed a breakout first-half into an All-Star selection, hitting .268/.343/.489 with 15 home runs and 15 stolen bases over the Nationals’ first 89 games. He struggled significantly in the second half, slashing .203/.260/.326, and Abrams’ defense has been a weakness throughout the season.

Still, the Nationals did not intend to send him to the minor leagues until they learned of his time spent at the casino, which was first reported Friday by CHGO.

“I just want it to be known it wasn’t performance-based,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez told reporters Saturday. “It’s an internal issue. I’m not going to give specifics.”

World

At least 44 people killed in Israel strikes on Lebanon and Gaza in last 24 hours

Published

2 hours ago

September 21, 2024

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At least 44 people killed in Israel strikes on Lebanon and Gaza in last 24 hours

At least 44 people have been killed in Israeli strikes on Lebanon and Gaza in the last 24 hours.

A strike on the Lebanese capital Beirut killed at least 31 people including three children and seven women, the country’s health minister Firas Abiad said.

Fifteen of the 68 wounded in the attack remain in hospital.

Ali Harake, the head of the rescue team searching through the rubble, told Sky News his team is still looking for between 17 and 18 missing people – though he fears none have survived.

Follow the latest updates on the Middle East

It is understood two apartment blocks in a densely populated southern neighbourhood collapsed in the strike – the deadliest attack on Beirut in decades.

Top Hezbollah commanders are believed to have been meeting in the basement of one of the buildings.

Hezbollah has confirmed two of its senior commanders, Ibrahim Aqil and Ahmed Wahbi, died in the strike while an Israeli military spokesperson said that at least 16 Hezbollah militants were killed.

Wahbi oversaw the military operations of the Radwan special forces – a commando unit that seeks to infiltrate and carry out attacks in Israel – until early 2024. Aqil was also a top commander for the Iran-backed group.

The Palestinian militant group Hamas has described the killing of Aqil as a “crime” and a “folly”, adding Israel will “pay the price”.

Meanwhile, at least 13 people have been killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza City, according to a local report.

The strikes are believed to have hit several schools sheltering displaced people in the southern part of the city.

The strikes come after Hezbollah launched one of its most intense bombardments of northern Israel in nearly a year of fighting, largely targeting Israeli military sites.

Israel’s Iron Dome missile defence system intercepted most of the Katyusha rockets.

Hezbollah said its latest wave of rocket attacks was a response to past Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon.

It came days after mass explosions of Hezbollah pagers and walkie-talkies killed at least 37 people, including two children. Some 2,900 others were wounded in the assault which has been widely attributed to Israel.

World

Fire rips through arms depot deep inside Russia after huge Ukrainian drone attack – as Zelenskyy prepares to meet Trump

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2 hours ago

September 21, 2024

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Fire rips through arms depot deep inside Russia after huge Ukrainian drone attack - as Zelenskyy prepares to meet Trump

A fire has ripped through a Russian missile depot in the Tver region deep inside the country after it was targeted in a Ukrainian drone attack, the defence ministry in Moscow has said.

Footage shows a second Ukrainian drone attack on the southwestern Russian region of Krasnodar also triggered a fire and caused a series of explosions.

Russia’s defence ministry has claimed its forces shot down 101 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory and occupied Crimea during the overnight attacks.

The drone strikes were carried out as Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskky said he is hoping to meet Donald Trump next week when he travels to the US – where he will present US President Joe Biden with a “victory plan” in relation to the war.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s foreign minister said Russia appears to be planning strikes on Ukrainian nuclear facilities before the winter.

Posts on local Telegram channels said a Ukrainian drone attack struck an arms depot near the town of Toropets, in Russia’s Tver region – which is about 380 kilometres (240 miles) northwest of Moscow and about 500 kilometres (300 miles) from the Ukrainian border on Saturday.

Russian authorities closed a 100-kilometre (62-mile) stretch of a highway and evacuated passengers from a nearby rail station.

The depot appeared to be just miles from a Russian weapons arsenal storing missiles, bombs and ammunition in Tver that was struck by Ukrainian drones early Wednesday, injuring 13 people and also causing a huge fire.

Meanwhile, at least 1,200 people were evacuated from Russia’s southwestern Krasnodar region after an ammunition depot and missile arsenal were struck in the second drone attack overnight, the local governor has said.

Most of those evacuated were staying with friends and relatives, Veniamin Kondratyev, the governor of Krasnodar region, said on the Telegram messaging app.

There were no immediate reports of casualties in either Tver or Krasnodar.

Ukraine warning of attacks on nuclear sites

It comes as Kyiv is urging the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Ukraine’s allies to establish permanent monitoring missions at the country’s nuclear plants as it warns they could be targeted in Russian attacks.

“In particular, it concerns open distribution devices at (nuclear power plants and) transmission substations, critical for the safe operation of nuclear energy,” foreign minister Andriy Sybiha wrote on X.

Zelenskyy prepares for US trip

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian leader has said he plans to meet Republican presidential candidate Mr Trump on either Thursday or Friday next week.

During the trip, Mr Zelenskyy will present Mr Biden with a so-called victory plan as he hopes to bring about an end to the conflict.

The Ukrainian president has said the plan will include long-range striking capabilities and other weapons long sought by Kyiv, and will serve as the basis for any future negotiation with Russia.

He is also expected to push Washington to lift restrictions on long-range missile strikes inside Russia.

Mr Zelenskyy will attend sessions of the UN Security Council and General Assembly and also plans to meet vice president Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate in this year’s US election, in separate meetings on 26 September.

The developments come as three sources have told Reuters that Iran did not include mobile launchers with the close-range ballistic missiles that Washington has accused Tehran of delivering to Russia for use against Ukraine.

The sources – a European diplomat, a European intelligence official and a US official – said it was not clear why Iran did not supply launchers with the Fath-360 missiles, raising questions about when and if the weapons will be operational.