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Do you think all candy affects your teeth the same way? Many people simply assume that candy is bad for teeth, no matter what. Although candy rarely benefits your teeth, there could be great disparity in the amount of tooth enamel damage caused by some candies versus others. The dentists at Dental Associates of Riverside prepared a short, true-false quiz to test readers’ knowledge on candy.

Read the prompts to determine if the statement is true, or false.  Answers provided below.

1. Cavity-fighting lollipops do not exist

2. Milk chocolate candy contains calcium

3. Chocolate candy is worse for tooth enamel than sour candy

Let’s see how you did.

Question 1: False

Relatively unknown by many people, xylitol lollipops do exist, and can aid in fighting cavities. Xylitol is a natural sugar substitute which can reduce the risk of cavities. It is also proven to diminish the risk of ear infections. Opting for a xylitol lollipop this Halloween could save your children’s teeth and ears!

Question 2: True

Not all chocolate contains calcium, so don’t run out and buy every box of chocolates on shelves in an attempt to ingest more calcium. However, milk chocolate does contain small amounts of calcium. When it comes to candy, milk chocolate is one of the easier substances to remove from teeth. Unlike hard candy, chocolate melts in your mouth. Chewing sugarless gum after eating chocolate could stimulate saliva flow enough to wash away excess food particles. Always make sure to brush though.

Question 3: False

Sour candy is one of the worst foods for teeth. Similarly to soft drinks, sour candy contains large amounts of harmful acids. When these acids react with bacteria in the mouth, known as Streptococcus mutans, lactic acids attack tooth enamel. Consuming highly-acidic foods or drinks is always danger to enamel.

Tooth enamel will not regenerate, so limiting exposure to acids is recommended. Additionally, try to wait at least 20 minutes before brushing after eating sour candy. Studies show that brushing too soon after an acid attack could pose harm to surrounding teeth.

Schedule Your Candy Consultation

Plan on grabbing a fun-size candy bar, or handful of sour gummy worms this Halloween? At Dental Associates of Riverside, we can answer your candy questions. We offer an array of dental services to patients of all ages. Contact our 92506 dental office by calling (951) 369-1001 to schedule a candy consultation, or routine checkup today. We welcome patients from Riverside, and all neighboring communities.