04 Apr Easter Candy and Your Teeth
No matter which holiday we’re celebrating, there always seems to be candy involved. There’s Valentine candy, Easter candy, Halloween candy, and Christmas candy. But even though everyone knows that sugar is bad for your teeth, not everyone understands why. And even though candy is bad for your teeth, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a few chocolate bunnies this Easter.
Let’s talk about sugar and your dental health, and about which Easter candy is best for your teeth.
How Sugar Affects Your Teeth
As you know, plaque buildup is the main culprit behind cavities and gingivitis. And since plaque likes to eat sugar, the more sugar you eat, the higher your risk of tooth decay and gum disease.
But it’s not the sugar that’s harming your teeth—the damage happens because of acids. When the bacteria in plaque digest sugar, they release acids. Eating a lot of sugar can trigger an acid attack later on.
How to Prevent Cavities and Gingivitis
As long as you take a few simple precautions, you can enjoy some candy without compromising your dental health. For instance:
- Don’t snack on candy all day. Give yourself a helping, and after you’re finished eating, drink some water. The water will help neutralize acid attacks and wash away some of the sugar.
- Brushing your teeth after eating candy will help prevent cavities, but you should wait at least 30 minutes. Brushing too soon could damage your tooth enamel.
- Don’t forget to floss before you go to sleep! Plaque can build up in between your teeth, too. And if any candy gets stuck in there, those bad bacteria will be feasting all night.
Easter Candy Ranked: Best to Worst
As dentists, we’re obligated to remind you that no candy is actually good for your teeth. But some types of candy are worse than others. Let’s compare five of the most common Easter candies, starting with the best.
1: Dark Chocolate Eggs
Chocolate eggs are an Easter classic, and if you go for dark chocolate, they’re not too bad for your teeth. Dark chocolate has less sugar, and it also has antioxidants that may help fight inflammation and gum disease.
2: Milk Chocolate Bunnies
Even though it has a lot more sugar, milk chocolate is still better than some other types of Easter candy. Since chocolate melts so easily, it will usually get rinsed away by your saliva, and won’t linger on your teeth.
3: Marshmallow Peeps
These classic Easter treats are pretty much pure sugar. They’re still not the worst for your teeth though, because they aren’t as sticky as the next two candies listed below.
4: Creme Eggs
Chocolate isn’t the worst candy for your teeth, but the filling inside a creme egg might be. Creme eggs usually contain a lot of high fructose corn syrup, which is one of the worst types of sugar for your teeth.
5: Jelly Beans
Sadly, jelly beans are one of the worst Easter candies for your teeth, because they are so sticky. Little bits tend to get stuck in the crevices of your molars and along the gum line, and the longer they stick there, the greater your risk of dental problems.
Schedule a Dental Cleaning in Prescott Today
One of the best ways to prevent cavities and gum disease is to get your teeth cleaned by a dental hygienist. They will remove every trace of plaque and tartar, and polish up your teeth for a brighter smile. If you’re due for an exam, contact us to schedule an appointment today.
Photo by Brian Wegman on Unsplash used with permission under the creative commons license for commercial use 4/1/25.