Im a dentist you should absolutely avoid these 5 popular Halloween candies

Forget ghosts and ghouls — Halloween can get really scary if you have to make an urgent trip to the dentist’s office.Past research has reported an 80% jump in emergency dentist visits on Halloween versus other October days.“This spike is often due to people indulging in candies that can damage teeth or existing dental work,” Dr.Priya Mistry, a dentist based in Vancouver, Washington, told The Post.

“If there have been cavities slowly and silently brewing, candy can definitely be the proverbial ‘straw that broke the camel’s back’ and cause an already soft/decayed tooth to fracture or break.”Mistry shared with The Post her top five “red flag” candies that could dampen Halloween spirits — extremely hard candies, sticky caramels or toffees, sour candies, gummies and jawbreakers.Hard candies, like Jolly Ranchers, Lifesavers and butterscotches, can chip or crack teeth, especially if you try to bite down on them. Mistry said you should see a dentist immediately if you chip or crack a tooth.In the meantime, you can alternate between ibuprofen and Tylenol if you’re in pain.Sticky candies like caramel or taffy can pull out fillings and crowns — and even break orthodontic appliances like braces.Better options include dark chocolate, which is rich in antioxidants, milk chocolate, chocolates with nuts or other crunchy elements that can help break up sticky residue on teeth, and finally, candy corn and marshmallows, which aren’t great for teeth but are better than the “red flag” candies.If you do decide to go for the Laffy Taffy, Mistry suggests chewing evenly on both sides of your mouth so you don’t wear out your jaw.

Drinking water between candies can also help relax overworked jaw muscles.Sour candies like Warheads or Sour Patch Kids have a high acid content that can erode enamel, the hard, protective covering of your teeth.Mistry said if tooth enamel wears down, the dentin layer of tissue underneath becomes more visible.Dent...