Halloween Candy and Dental Crowns: What’s Actually Safe to Eat

The excitement of costumes and candy is what many people look forward to in the month of October. While sweets in moderation are definitely a treat, it’s important to be mindful of your oral health, especially if you have dental crowns.

Park Dental NYC specializes in custom dental crowns to address dental issues like weak, broken, or decayed teeth.

Our dental experts, Yookung Park, DDS, and Pat Ng-A-Fook, DDS, offer dental crowns made of ceramic, porcelain, and other durable materials to restore your smile and improve your dental health.

We also provide resources you can use to protect the integrity of your crowns and ensure they last for years to come.

Candy and its effect on crowns

Dental crowns are tooth-shaped caps that fit over your natural tooth to restore its size and shape. Crowns protect your tooth from additional decay and provide stability for weak or damaged teeth. They also improve the appearance of chipped or broken teeth to give you a great-looking smile.

Eating a small amount of candy is generally safe for people with crowns because of the durability of the materials. However, you must follow through with good oral hygiene practices like brushing and flossing to remove cavity-causing sugar on the surface and in between your teeth.

Certain candies, especially hard lollipops, jawbreakers, and other hard candies, can damage a crown if you eat them in excess.  Caramels, toffees, and other sticky substances can loosen a crown or dislodge it from its bond to your natural tooth, creating a dental emergency.

5 tips to protect your dental crown

Dental crowns are designed to last for 10-15 years. A crown’s longevity depends on what materials it’s made of and your overall oral care routine.

Here are some tips from our experts to get the most out of your dental crowns during the Halloween candy season and beyond:

1. Enjoy holiday treats in moderation

If you can’t resist the lure of candy, be selective about the type of sweets you eat during Halloween and other holidays.

Choose treats that are soft without being sticky, like a chocolate bar.  Eat enough to satisfy a craving without going overboard.

2. Opt for sugar-free

There have been great advancements made in the sugar-free candy industry. Seek out sugar-free alternatives to your favorite candies and keep some on hand to quench your sweet tooth.

3. Skip the sour

Sour candies, even those without sugar, can damage enamel and weaken your natural teeth, potentially increasing your risk of needing more crowns.

4. Limit your sweet stash

If you have bags of candies left over after Halloween, don’t hang on to them. Keeping sweets around can be a temptation that’s too hard to resist, which puts your natural teeth and crowns at risk for decay and other damage.

Before you toss them in the trash, donate unwrapped candy to local food banks, shelters, or other community groups that will accept them.

5. Schedule a professional cleaning

Our Park Dental NYC team recommends that adults and kids schedule a routine dental cleaning every six months. After Halloween is a great time to schedule a professional cleaning to keep your smile bright and your mouth healthy.

Call the Park Dental NYC office in Midtown East, Manhattan, New York, today to schedule a dental exam and cleaning. You can also book an appointment online.