The “Spooky” Truth about Halloween Candy

With Halloween and trick and treating around the corner, it’s a great time to hear the negatives about these wonderful treats. Like most things, all candy are not created equally. So before you or your child munches down on their Halloween candy, read this sugar disclaimer!

Top Candies to Avoid:

The Bad: Sugar filled snacks-Candy corn, chocolate, pixie sticks. All of these are high in sugar and   can cause dental cavities.

Even more Bad: Chewy and Sticky candy. This candy is also filled with sugar but due to the sticky consistency it sits in tiny pits and grooves on all surfaces on your teeth. Saliva has a hard time washing and cleaning the sugar away from the tooth’s depressions.

The Worst: Sour Candy- These candies are very acidic and can easily break down the outer tooth shell called the enamel. This leaves a softer enamel and higher chances of dental decay.

Better Candies to Enjoy:

Two Words-SUGAR FREE: Sugar-free gum, lollipops and candy. Gum chewing in general can actually help stimulate saliva to relieve dry mouth as well as avoiding cavities. Many candies are acidic sugar free or not, but stimulating saliva helps neutralize the acids that can cause tooth decay.

Most Importantly: Wait 30 minutes after eating sugary-acidic candies to brush your teeth. This time will allow the saliva to neutralize your mouth. Of course, don’t forget to floss! Flossing is the only way to remove the sugar and bacteria left between the teeth.

Happy Trick or Treating!

What is Orthognathic Surgery?

Orthognathic surgery is sometimes called "Surgical Orthodontics" because, just as an orthodontist repositions teeth, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon uses orthognathic surgery to reposition one or both jaws. Just as "orthodontics" means "straight teeth", "orthognathic" means "straight jaws". In fact, because moving the jaws also moves the teeth, orthognathic surgery is usually performed in conjunction with orthodontics so that the teeth are in proper position after surgery. The objective of orthognathic surgery is the correction of a wide range of minor and major facial and jaw irregularities, and benefits include an improved ability to chew, speak and breathe. In many cases an enhanced appearance can also result.

People who can potentially benefit from orthognathic surgery include those with an improper bite and those with jaws that are positioned incorrectly. Jaw growth is a slow and gradual process, and in some instances, the upper and lower jaws may grow at different rates. The result can be a host of problems that can affect chewing function, speech, long-term oral health, and appearance. Injury to the jaw and birth defects can also affect jaw alignment. While orthdontics alone can correct many "bite" problems if only the teeth are involved, orthognathic surgery may be required if the jaws also need repositioning.