By MARC STEWART

Heritage Health

Lollipops, Jolly Ranchers, and gummy bears and worms may be popular, but many dentists believe those sweet confections are the equivalent of brain-eating zombies.

Nationally, dentists have determined certain types of Halloween candy are scarier than others because of their propensity to attach to and attack teeth.

One general rule to follow: If the candy is chewy, gummy or sticky, you should be extra careful, advises Heritage Health Dentist Zachary Miller.

“Candy that gets stuck in between or in the grooves of the teeth feeds the bacteria in your mouth longer,” Miller said. “Chocolate simply melts away, but the stickier candies can be very damaging with this prolonged bacterial buffet.”

People should be vigilant when it comes to dental health, especially during the Halloween season.

“The harmful bacteria in your mouth eat the sugars you consume and produce acid, which slowly decays teeth, causing cavities to form and erosion to occur,” said Miller. “Sugars left unchecked cause cavities.”

Dentists have been struggling with how to combat Halloween candy for generations. Lots of ideas have been floated to stem the tide of sugary goodies, including candy buyback programs and handing out toothbrushes and floss instead of candy.

Tradition seems to win every year.

“From a dental perspective, you’re better off letting your child eat all of the candy you would allow in one sitting rather than snacking on it for hours,” said Miller.

Rinse?

Yes, Miller said rinsing washes away the excess acid in the mouth. The damage can occur in about 20 minutes after consuming candy.

“Brushing and flossing are important too,” he said. “It removes those candy bits stuck on teeth.”

The American Dental Association celebrates National Brush Day on November 1 – the day after Halloween. Dentists recommend making brushing teeth a family habit.

The rule of thumb is to brush your teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste. Make sure you’re brushing for a full two minutes each time. Cleaning between your teeth daily with floss or another interdental cleaner helps remove plaque and food particles from between the teeth and under the gum line.

“The old saying about an ounce of prevention being worth a pound of cure is very true when it comes to dental health,” said Miller. “Choosing to brush your teeth will save you from needing to spend time in my chair.”