Good and Bad Candy 
Monday, October 29, 2007, 08:19 AM - Dental Hygiene, General Dentistry, Pediatric Dentistry, Public Health Sciences
This week, children and some adults may consume an unhealthy amount of candy. The Halloween season can lead to bad news at your next dental visit. Dr. Linda Niessen offers advice on the best way to avoid Halloween related tooth decay in today’s Dental Health Check.

Not all candy is created equal when it comes to cavities. Some types of treats are more tooth friendly than others.

So when young goblins roam neighborhoods, the kind of candy they receive may affect their future oral health.

What your child brings home in the treat bag can be more frightening than any goblin, especially sticky, gooey candy that stays on your child’s teeth.

"So things like caramels, Junior mints, really sticky Starbursts that kids love now. All those are bad candy choices. Good candy choices would be something you might chew up like a piece of chocolate, and it’s gone," says dentist Dr. Vicki Borowski.

When you shop for candy, choose the kind most likely to stay in the mouth a short time.

Dental Hygienist and Dietitian Lisa Mallone says, "We’ve seen in research that chocolate actually has tannins—components that actually benefit your oral health, specifically dark chocolate, but in small amounts."

Sealants also help. Permanent 6 year and 12 year molars should be sealed as soon as possible. Besides candy, look for alternatives such as novelties.

Halloween Shop Owner Tripp Snuggs suggests, "By the time children get to the 25th or 30th house they’ve been to, it’s kind of fun to get a trick instead of a treat."

So this Halloween, make sure the scary teeth in your household are only part of a costume.

For Texas A&M Health Science Center, Baylor College of Dentistry, I’m Dr. Linda Niessen, Channel 8 News.




For additional advice, see
American Dental Association:
www.ada.org

STORY: GOOD AND BAD CANDY
SCRIPT #863 SHOOT: 10/03/07
AIRDATE: Monday, Oct. 28, 2007
DHC Master #22 Timecode: 36:32 SOVT: 1:31



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