Tricky treats

The ghostly costumes and Halloween tricks may be gone for now, but the ghoulish effects of too many treats could live on.

Parents may want to take a closer look at the type and amount of candy they let children eat in the days ahead, dentists say. Sticky chewy favorites, such as taffy, Tootsie Rolls and gummy bears, are the most damaging, said Valle Rischer, a dentist at Woodrail Dental Center in southwest Columbia.

“The stickiness of these sweets adheres to the grooves of teeth,” Rischer said. “Because the grooves are so small, even a small toothbrush bristle is too large to get them out.”

Snacking on candy continuously — as is often the case with Halloween leftovers — provides fertile ground for cavities to form, dentists say. Because cavities are slow-forming and do not occur overnight, Rischer said, some people may not even know that they have them.

Smaller cavities are less likely to hurt, Rischer said. The most important thing is to have teeth checked and cleaned after the holiday season, she said.

Refined sugar, a major ingredient in candy, provides the fuel for acid-forming bacteria that break down tooth enamel. Once this erosion begins, dentists say, holes can form. These large holes result in cavities.

There are things parents can do to keep their children free from cavities.

Dentist Dan Shapira said he would have his now-grown children dump their bags on the carpet and allow them to eat three pieces of candy on Halloween.

The next day, he said, he allowed them to pick out five or six pieces for the rest of the week. The remaining candy would be thrown out.

“It really was a waste,” he said.

Others prefer to offer an incentive.

Scott Robinson, a Columbia orthodontist, will buy back candy from his patients today at $1 per pound. This is the second time Robinson has offered patients this service. Proceeds this year will go to help Hurricane Katrina victims.

“Last year, we collected 100 pounds of candy,” said Laura Edwards, patient coordinator.

Though the focus is often on candy in preventing cavities, sugary sweets are not the only culprit, dentists say. Carbohydrates like pasta eventually turn into sugar and can provide fuel for cavities.

The high sugar content of popular sports drinks such as Gatorade and even 100-percent fruit juice can cause decay, Rischer said.

Drinking diet soda, which is replete with acid, also increases the likelihood of cavities, Shapira said.

Regardless of diet, dentists say, good brushing and flossing habits remain essential.

Even strict dentists say a little candy is OK once in a while.

“We always give out one piece of candy,” Shapira said. “But no one is able to take a handful.”