San Antonio – Halloween is the time for sweet treats, but it can lead to problems with cavities if we’re not careful.

“Everyone has bacteria in their mouth, and it is this bacteria that causes cavities. This happens when your mouth is acidic,” said San Antonio pediatric dentist Dr. Derrick Cantu. “When you’re constantly snacking on sugar, these bacteria will be active the entire time you’re eating it. If you have just one Skittle or one M&M every hour, not that we blame Skittles or Eminem, your mouth can be acidic for up to eight hours.”

points quickly American Dental Association, This says that not all sugars are created equal; Some are better than others at causing cavities.

Skip sticky candies like gum, which can get stuck on your teeth and stay there for a long time.

Also stay away from sour candies that are high in acidity; Both increase the risk of cavities due to the acid they create in our saliva and mouth, which can lead to cavities.

To prevent cavities, chocolate, bagels and crackers are better options. Chocolate does not stick to the teeth and can melt quickly.

Better options are sugar-free gum and ADA-sealed candies. Eating a piece of gum 20 minutes after eating helps prevent tooth decay.

Cantu recommends getting rid of any remaining sugar after a week or two to prevent long-term exposure to decay-causing sugar.

“We will put sugar in a certain amount of time and a certain amount of sugar,” he said. “And before bed, make sure we drink some water, brush our teeth, and floss to rinse away all the sticky sugar.”