– Jamin Houser DDS
We all know that excessive sugars and sweets can cause decay in your teeth and cause cavities. Almost everyone gives in to their sweet tooth now and again. Are there certain kinds of candy that are less harmful to my teeth than others?
That’s a great question, and there is good news! Certain types of sweets can be less harmful to your teeth than others so it is important to know which sweets can be more harmful to your teeth than others. The amount of time that sugars are sitting in your mouth is the biggest factor in keeping the sweets from effecting your teeth.
This means avoiding sweets that remain in your mouth for a significant amount of time like lollipops, jolly ranchers, and other hard candy. Having all that sugar just sitting in your mouth is literally like bathing your teeth in it. It mixes with your saliva and gets everywhere, including in between your teeth where cavities commonly form. Full strength soft drinks have the same effect- the sugar is getting everywhere!
So what is a better choice? Well, if you aren’t ready to embrace a new diet that prohibits sweets, try to eat things that you can literally chew up and swallow. This minimizes the amount of time the sugars are in your mouth. If you are a chocolate lover, lean towards dark chocolate which has a lower sugar content.
You can apply this eating strategy to others questionable foods as well. And remember, it never hurts to drink water and swish it around a bit following a sugary snack, just to help wash it all down!