Candy and Cavities – What’s the science behind it?

Candy and cavities are the hot words in any dental office this week.  But how does candy actually cause cavities?  And what’s the best strategy for allowing my child to enjoy their Halloween treats while minimizing their risk for cavities?

Let’s look at a hypothetical pair of siblings, Zoro and Zara.  Zoro and Zara have a blast trick-or-treating, and come home with a huge load of candy, chocolate, chips, and the token unidentifiable gummy candies!  Zoro loves to gorge on his candy, and eats 50 pieces at a time, emptying his entire stash within 2 days.  On the other hand, Zara loves to savour her treats, and rations her candy.  She eats only one piece at a time, many times per day.  It takes Zara over a month to see the bottom of her pillowcase.

Who will be at a greater risk of getting cavities, Zoro or Zara?

In fact, you may be surprised that the answer is Zara.  The risk of getting cavities it is not proportional to the quantity of candy eaten; it is directly related to the frequency of candy intake.  And there’s science behind this rationale.  Sugars and refined carbohydrates increase the acidity and decrease the pH balance of the mouth, which increases the risk of cavities.  So every time Zara nibbles on her single piece of chocolate or candy, she increases the risk of cavity formation.  Most importantly, is that the acidic environment in her mouth takes up to an hour to return to normal levels.  Thus, Zara’s constant nibbling creates a more consistent environment in her mouth that is conducive to cavity formation, compared to her brother Zoro’s handful of gorging events!

Unfortunately, this applies to all sugars, refined carbohydrates, and naturally sweet foods.  Chips, crackers, juice, milk, fruit, and of course chocolate and candy.   So plan your snacks and treats accordingly throughout the year, not just at Halloween!  The best time for kids to have a treat is at meal time as a dessert.  Here’s a great article written by a pediatric dentist explaining this further.

Don’t forget about our Halloween Candy Buy Back Program.  Bring your unwanted candy into our office anytime in November, and we will buy it back for $1 per pound, and make a matching donation to the Tong Louie YMCA.  We’ll put the candy to good use with various organizations around town, and help out the YMCA at the same time!