Why You Should Be Avoiding Hard Candy and Mints to Freshen Your Breathe
Posted on 9/21/2021 by Dick Hikade, DDS
It is hard to resist the candy you ate as a kid. Hard candy and mints come in all kinds of colors and flavors including butterscotch, caramel, and cinnamon. Sour balls, jaw breakers, and lemon drops have captivated children for generations. While these hard candies and mints seem harmless in their brightly colored wrappers, if you consume them, they can damage your teeth.
Too Much Sugar
The constant exposure to sugar while sucking on hard candy or mints can be harmful to your teeth. Plaque forms on your teeth not long after you eat hard candy or mints. If you do not brush the plaque away, the bacteria in plaque will convert the sugars on your teeth into acids. These acids damage your teeth as they bore through your enamel. A cavity is born.
Too Much Force
Hard candies also put your teeth at risk. Your teeth are made of strong material, however, if you bite down on hard candy or mints you have the potential to break or chip your tooth. In addition, you can damage existing dental work in your mouth.
Alternatives to Hard Candy and Mints
If you are at home, you can brush and floss your teeth to improve your breath. Also, brush your tongue as bacteria that causes bad breath often resides there. Rinse your mouth with mouthwash as a quick alternative. You may be surprised how powerful mouthwash can be to freshen your mouth. If you are not at home, chew a piece of sugarless gum to satisfy your bad breath.
Come to Our Office Every Six Months
If you have bad breath, it is a good idea to come in for your professional cleaning and exam. We look forward to seeing you soon and discussing any dental questions you may have.
Dental Blog | Sunnyside Dentistry | Clackamas, OR dentist Dick Hikade, DDS at Sunnyside Dentistry has created this informative blog to help educate the community about dental concerns. Sunnyside Dentistry, 14210 SE Sunnyside Rd, Suite 200, Clackamas, OR 97015 | (503) 451-5104 | sunnysidedentistry.com | 10/15/2024 | Page Phrases: dentist Clackamas OR |
It is hard to resist the candy you ate as a kid. Hard candy and mints come in all kinds of colors and flavors including butterscotch, caramel, and cinnamon. Sour balls, jaw breakers, and lemon drops have captivated children for generations. While these hard candies and mints seem harmless in their brightly colored wrappers, if you consume them, they can damage your teeth.