Candies for your teeth—if you want candy cavities, go and eat candy! This is familiar phrase that all of us grow up with and probably tell our kids. But is this true or just a misconception?
We wish it would be a misconception, but unfortunately, candy and teeth can’t get along well with each other.
In this discussion, we’ll walk through different kinds of candies and examine the effect of each on our oral health. Moreover, we let you know the recommendations and solutions Dr. Mir offers to enjoy candies and protect your teeth as well.
Why Is Candy Bad For Your Teeth?
Candies have a high amount of sugar—the harmful element to our teeth. In fact, sugar itself isn’t a risk, but it feeds off the harmful bacteria in our mouth, the bacteria that causes the breakdown of our enamel and leads to cavities. In other words, cavities are the results of bacteria’s infection.
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Candy and Teeth: The Role of Saliva
All of us know the saliva’s job is to clear away food particles in our teeth and protect them from damage and cavities.
Among all kinds of candies, one of the worst is sticky and hard ones because the saliva can’t effectively clear away the leftover particles from our teeth. What should we expect next? You’re right, tooth decay!
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Different Kinds of Candies and Their Effects on Teeth
Here, we discuss different kinds of candies and analyze the role of each of them in damaging the teeth.
Candise for Your Teeth: Chocolate
Chocolate is one of the best candies for your teeth because it easily washes away and does not stick to the teeth. As a result, it does not cause cavities or other types of tooth decay. But be cautious! It doesn’t mean you’re allowed to eat chocolate as much as you want!
Dark chocolate has a low amount of sugar and a relatively high amount of antioxidants that help heart health and lower blood pressure. Some studies show that dark chocolates contain compounds that can harden tooth enamel and have an anti-plaque effect.
Dark chocolate is our highest recommendation! Always try to opt for dark chocolate on any occasion! However, like any other thing in the world, you need to keep it in moderation.
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Candies for Your Teeth: Sugar-Free Candy
The biggest enemy of oral health is sugar because it simply causes bacterial growth in the mouth, so our second piece of advice is to eat sugar-free candies if you still insist on eating candies.
On the other hand, sugar-free candies stimulate saliva production that causes the washing of all harmful bacteria and plaque off of your mouth, which protects your teeth from decay. However, using a high amount of them is not advisable because they contain chemical compounds that have an adverse effect on your dental health, so be cautious when you want to consume a large amount of them.
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Candy and Teeth—Candies with Nuts
Candies with nuts are a mixed bag for oral health. On one hand, nuts can have less sugar than other candies and may provide some dental benefits, like reducing the risk of cavities by stimulating saliva flow. However, the sugar and stickiness in candies can cause tooth decay if not cleaned properly. A balanced approach to consumption and good oral hygiene are key.
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Sugar-free Gum
Believe it or not, chewing sugar-free gum can prevent cavities! Here, we talk about some benefits of sugarless gums.
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Top Five Advantages of Sugar-Free Gum
- Alleviate dry mouth: Dry mouth occurs when the amount of saliva production decreases. Certain conditions, such as lupus or Parkinson’s disease, as well as specific medications like pain medications, muscle relaxers, Decongestants, Antihistamines, and Antidepressants, can cause dry mouth. Chewing sugar-free gum is the best way to increase the production of saliva.
- Stop cavities: If you want to prevent cavities and tooth decay, chew sugar-free gum for about 20 minutes after each meal. It increases saliva production, which washes all food particles out of your mouth.
- Strengthen Enamel: The acid in your mouth not only causes cavities but also results in enamel erosion. Chewing sugarless gum is a wise solution to protect your enamel since it reduces the amount of acid in your mouth.
- Reduce tooth sensitivity: Sensitivity is one of the side effects of whitening teeth. Based on studies, you can significantly decrease tooth sensitivity by chewing sugarless gum.
- Freshen your breath: Xylitol is the natural sweetener found in almost every sugar-free gum that makes your breath fresh. Moreover, sugar-free gum, by removing bacteria from your teeth and gums, causes a pleasant odor in your mouth.
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Candies for Your Teeth: Sticky Candies
Sticky candies are the worst candies for your teeth because they stick in the crevices in your teeth and consequently cause cavities.
Removing them is difficult, meaning they will remain on the teeth longer and feed bacteria that cause tooth decay. Furthermore, they contain a high amount of sugar.
We recommend consuming some fresh fruit instead. They do not stick in your teeth and have natural and, of course, less sugar, besides having a great sweet taste.
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Candy Cavities: Hard Candies
Eating hard candies means keeping them in the mouth longer while sucking them. When you suck on hard candy, your saliva fills with sugar and constantly coats your teeth in it, exposing you to more sugar than when you are quickly eating a piece of candy. The longer this period is, the more likely tooth decay is.
Furthermore, biting down on hard candies may cause your teeth to break or chip.
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Sour candies
Sour candies are harmful due to their sugar coating and high acidity. We have already talked about how bad sugar is for your teeth since it stimulates the growth of bacteria that causes cavities. Your teeth might also suffer significant harm from high acidity. Acids erode dental enamel, making teeth more vulnerable to decay and fracture.
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Some York Orthodontic Pieces of Advice for Dental Care
After learning how damaging candy can be to your teeth, you are probably wondering how you can satisfy your sweet tooth without indulging in sugary treats.
Try eating fresh fruits rather than something sweet. They are nutrient-rich and, besides, as tasty as candies. If you want to make a dessert, use less sugar and a high amount of fresh fruit. Moreover, you can make sweets in your home using healthy ingredients that are less harmful to your teeth but still tasty.
For example, you can make your own ice cream by adding some pieces of banana (rather than sugar) to get the same sweet taste and creamy texture. You can also add peanut butter and coconut to your dessert to decrease the amount of sugar content.
If you care about your oral health, monitor sugar consumption carefully and visit a dentist regularly.
We understand that everyone enjoys sweets, so if you have any questions about having a beautiful smile and your favorite chocolates (that you probably can’t stop eating) or orthodontic treatment, please contact us at York Orthodontics.
FAQs
Sugar-free candy generally does not cause cavities because it lacks fermentable sugars that feed cavity-causing bacteria. However, some sugar substitutes, like acidic ingredients or artificial sweeteners, can still contribute to enamel erosion or dry mouth, which may indirectly affect oral health. Choosing candies with xylitol may even help prevent cavities by reducing harmful bacteria.
Candy can increase the risk of cavities by feeding bacteria that produce acid, leading to tooth decay. Sticky or hard candies can also damage enamel or cause dental fractures. However, sugar-free options with xylitol may help reduce harmful bacteria and protect teeth.
Candy affects your teeth by feeding bacteria that produce acid, leading to cavities and enamel erosion. Sticky and hard candies can cling to teeth longer, increasing the risk of decay or even causing fractures.