I have a confession. This is the time of year that I,
as a Camarillo dentist, am supposed to go on and on about the horrors of candy, but, I
can’t. Even though most people believe that candy is the number one threat to
teeth and the top cause of cavities, research does not support this wholesale
vilification of sweets.
Any food that has any kind of sugar or carbohydrates
that can be broken down by the bacteria in your mouth cause cavities. The
longer the food sits on the teeth, the more breakdown of enamel we will see.
Surprisingly, research shows that candy, like
caramels and jellybeans, dissolve more rapidly than starch-based products like
potato chips, bread and rice. Candy is made with soluble sugars that wash away
more rapidly than the sticky starches.
But be sensible, occasional eating of candy is not aproblem, especially if you brush and floss afterwards. The problem comes when
we eat is all day long.
Maybe you
should move that holiday candy bowl to someone else’s desk. - Dr. C:)
