I am a dentist, I hate plaque and gingivitis, I stress proper brushing, I beg people to floss every day, and yes, I prescribe CANDY almost daily in my practice. Candy?! Is this some kind of dental blasphemy? No, believe it or not, the right kind of candy can actually promote stronger teeth and better oral health!Streptococcus mutans is the oral bacteria responsible for causing cavities. It breaks down sugars to form plaque and acids which eat away your tooth. This bacteria has a very specific sugar diet...sucrose. Without sucrose, this bacteria has no food and no ability to cause cavities. Xylitol is a natural sweetener that is FDA approved for use as a food additive. It has quickly become the sweetener of choice for many sugar-free gums and candies. What is the first thing you notice about xylitol? It's NOT sucrose! Cavity-causing bacteria cannot digest this stuff! Research has shown that xylitol actually inhibits the growth of streptococcus mutans. Great news for your teeth, terrible news for bacteria!
Besides decreasing the bacterial colonies in your mouth, sugar-free candy and gum, like all food, will get your salivary glands going. Your saliva plays a crucial role in your oral health. Most people realize that it moisturizes food and acts as a lubricant for all the grinding and chewing that goes on in your mouth; however, there are more benefits than just that. Saliva acts as a buffer to neutralize any harmful acids that may be present in your mouth. Also, saliva contains many minerals that help strengthen teeth and restore "soft spots" to healthy tooth structure.
Let's put this all together now. Chewing sugar-free gum or eating sugar-free candy will essentially inhibit cavity-causing bacteria, neutralize harmful acids, and strengthen teeth. That's quite the resume! So, analyze your diet. If you have a high intake of sugary foods consider replacing them with some sugar-free options or using sugar-free candy or gum after consuming sugary foods to neutralize the harmful environment. Cavities can be prevented.
I am a dentist and I prescribe candy to patients.
