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Candy Alarm
Candy Alarm
Two types of candy are very popular with children, as well as with some adults, that are of particular concern. One type, sour acid candy, is very detrimental to enamel, and is the topic of this month’s News Bite. The other type, containing tamarind or chili, can actually be toxic because of the levels of lead it may contain, and will be discussed in May’s New Bite.
The demineralization of enamel, which is the process by which a cavity or carie forms, occurs at a pH of 5.5 and below. Sour acid candy contains a variety of acids (they are added to give the candy its sour taste), including: citric, malic, tartaric, fumaric, lactic, etc. These acids can have a pH of around 2.2 to 2.4, much lower than what is needed to demineralize enamel. In eating, chewing, or sucking on sour candy, the tooth is first exposed to acid, softening the enamel, and then blasted with sugar! Patients who indulge in this type of candy very often have an increase in the amount of cavities, loss of luster, erosion, and more tooth sensitivity.
Sour acid candy comes in a variety of forms: hard, soft, gummy, gels, sprays, foams, powders, pastes, and in adult breath mints. It does not take a lot of this type of candy to be destructive. If you must indulge, do so occasionally; and, if you can’t brush your teeth right away, rinse with or drink water to clear the acids and sugars from your mouth. Rinsing at night with a mouthwash containing fluoride after brushing with fluoridated toothpaste is also recommended.
Another concern is, where are these candies coming from? Some of them are imported from foreign countries, such as China and Mexico where standards are not as stringent as they are here in the United States. Are they being inspected by the FDA, or are they slipping under the radar? This brings us to our next type of candy that really is scary because it may contain high levels of lead! More on that in May’s News Bite. Tune in next month!
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