The Best (and Worst) Candy for Your Teeth - Periodontal Associates Inc (2024)

FAQs

What candy does not cause cavities? ›

Chocolate: Chocolate is by far the best candy for teeth. This is a good thing since it is the most popular candy and is found in many holiday desserts. Chocolate easily washes off the teeth, meaning it doesn't stick around to cause cavities or other types of tooth damage.

Jolly ranchers, peppermints, and lifesavers are all hard enough to crack a tooth or break a crown. And splinters from a shattered hard candy could get stuck between your teeth or scratch up your gums.

Consuming a lot of sugary foods and beverages can lead to the development of gum disease (i.e., periodontal disease) and cavities; however, it is not the sugar itself that is detrimental to the teeth and gums, it is the bacteria that eats it.

According to dentists, the three main types of treats to avoid are sticky, hard, and acidic candy. Acidic and high sugar content is highly detrimental to teeth. Most of all, any candy that stays for long periods in the patient's mouth, such as lollipops or hard candy, should be avoided.

Chewy Candies: Caramel, toffee, Twizzlers, fudge, and other chewy treats might hit your sweet spot – and then stay there for some time. Since these candies stick to your teeth, they have the staying power that provides bacteria with ample opportunity to consume the sugar, producing acids.

Xylitol Has Protective Qualities

Xylitol is a unique type of artificial sweetener in that it also works to fight bacteria-caused decay in addition to substituting for regular sugar. It has approximately half the calories of an equal amount of sugar and is used in foods like gum and pop.

Sticky or chewy candy is top of the list for candy to avoid. This is because the chewier and stickier a candy is, the more likely that it will leave a sugary residue in the crevices of your teeth or between your teeth.

Chocolate options that are okay for teeth include Kit Kats, Nestle's Crunch, Hershey's Chocolate, M&Ms, Smarties and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. These chocolate bars are less “sticky” than Twix, Snickers, Milk Way, and other treats that will stick to teeth and make it difficult to remove all sugar residues.

Any type of sticky candy from AirHeads, to Starburst, to Now-n-Laters, will stay on the teeth longer, which lets bacteria thrive on the sugar and cause tooth decay. even dried fruit can cause problems.

Even with regular brushing and flossing, caramel has the ability to cling to the teeth. When caramel sits on the teeth for long periods of time, more and more bacteria grow. These bacteria eat away at your teeth, causing an array of dental problems.

Are marshmallows bad for your teeth? ›

Chewy candy tends to get stuck in those pits and grooves for long periods of time, fueling bacteria growth and allowing it to do immense damage to the dental enamel. Included under bad, chew candies is bubble gum, gummies, marshmallows, and other common squishy treats.

Hard candies such as Jolly Ranchers and Werthera s Original are bad for your teeth in more than one way. While much of the pleasure of these tasty treats is derived from the fact that you get to enjoy them over an extended period of time, one of the key problems stems from that as well.

Even if you're coming into our office for treatment for a dental problem, there's no need to feel like your mouth is “gross” or beyond repair.

During the measuring process, you'll hear us say numbers ranging from 1 to 7, and sometimes more. These numbers reflect how deep your gum pockets are in millimeters. Anything between 1 and 3 is a good indicator that your gums are healthy.

Some suggested foods: Fiber-rich fruits and vegetables. Foods with fiber help keep your teeth and gums clean, says the American Dental Association (ADA). They also get saliva flowing.

First, candies with sugar substitutes can still cause tooth decay. This is often forgotten. Even with sugar-free candies, there is a lower risk of tooth decay, but the trade-off is that they are still harmful to teeth as they often contain high levels of acid!