Are candies really bad for your teeth?

When it comes to treats, you have to separate the wheat from the chaff. Treats are generally considered to be harmful to teeth. This is often the case, but not always.

Nutrident informs you about the quality of candy and their impact on your mouth.

The right treats for your teeth

Dark chocolate

Dark chocolate is, by far, the best treat for your teeth. It is even very effective in fighting tooth decay, thanks to one of its compounds that helps harden tooth enamel. Cocoa beans also have an antibacterial effect that fights plaque.

Attention, it is only pure dark chocolate, as soon as milk or sugar is added, it falls into the bad candy category.

Sugar-free candy

All sugar-free candies are safe for your teeth because it is the sugar that disturbs the pH of your mouth and feeds the bacteria.

However, sugar-free candies contain sweeteners that are sometimes controversial. If sugar-free candy guarantees the safety of your teeth, there is uncertainty about the rest. Fake sugars are often accused of being unhealthy and even carcinogenic. Nothing is proven, but it is obvious that these are chemicals that are always best avoided. As with everything, don't overuse it.

Chocolate with nuts

The nuts in the chocolate prevent it from sticking to the teeth. As mentioned above, you should choose the purest dark chocolate. Nuts provide protein and fiber that are beneficial to your oral health.

If you like originality, you can find chocolate bars with nuts and sea salt that seduce many lovers of good treats.

Bad treats for the teeth

Sticky candy

The stickier the candy, the worse it is. Caramels and gums of all kinds increase the risk of cavities. They remain stuck on the surface of the tooth and in the gaps between the teeth. The saliva makes them disappear gradually, but the sugar has had time to take effect.

Dried fruits

Dried fruits are equally harmful to teeth because of their viscosity and sugar concentration. Stick to fresh fruit, which is much lower in sugar, and contains fiber and water to keep you full.

The lollipops

The frequency of exposure works against lollipops. When you eat a lollipop, you leave your teeth soaking in a sugar solution for a long time. Your saliva melts the treat and forms a dense liquid that bathes your teeth and intensifies plaque. If you don't brush your teeth immediately afterwards, you are putting your teeth at risk of cavities.

Tart candy

Extremely popular, sour candies are a disaster for the health of teeth. These are the gelatinous candies, covered with grains of acid sugar.

Their action is doubly harmful. At first, they sting: it is the acids that damage and weaken the enamel of your teeth. In a second step, they are crushed between your teeth by sticking them: the gelatin sticks to the teeth, exposing them longer to the sugar.

If you are a fan of these bad treats, you must brush your teeth immediately after eating them.

Candy and teeth : FAQ

Why does candy promote cavities?

Plaque is deposited on the surface of the teeth and is removed by brushing the teeth. When plaque remains on the teeth, the bacteria it contains convert sugars from food, especially candy, into acids. These attack the tooth by forming a hole on its surface: this is dental caries.

When is the best time to eat candy?

It is best to eat the candy at the end of the meal, as there is more saliva at that time, which will help remove acids that can attack tooth enamel.