The popularity of sour candies has become phenomenal. These pucker-up treats are everywhere in a variety of form and flavors. Children and many adults are absolutely hooked, but the dental community isn’t enamored. Let’s look at the facts:
- Melt in your mouth – part of the problem is that these candies are made to stay in the mouth until they dissolve. That means that the teeth are continually exposed to the sugars they contain, and the bacteria that thrive on these sugars will be active for longer periods of time.
- That acid bite – Another major problem with these candies is that they are full of acids. The phosphoric acid in a soft drink can begin to corrode the enamel of a tooth is less than half an hour. These candies contain up to four different acids that, together, can be highly corrosive. It is acids excreted by bacteria in the mouth that cause cavities to occur, so eating these acid-containing confections will only increase the rate of decay.
- Moderation is key – All this doesn’t mean you should never allow your child to have sour candy. What it does mean is that candy should be an occasional treat rather than a staple of your child’s diet. It also means that good oral hygiene habits (brushing and flossing) should be practiced immediately after ingesting sour or any other sweet in order to cleanse the mouth and avoid dental decay.
