Hard candies and chewy sweets are popular, but they are among the sweets most likely to cause cavities.
- Hard and chewy sweets stay on the teeth for a long time and cause cavities.
- Sour sweets soften enamel and hard sweets can chip teeth.
- Keep sweets for after meals and rinse your mouth afterwards.
- Do not suck sweets at bedtime.
Eating hard candies, chewy sweets and boiled sweets often is quite a common habit in both children and adults. For the teeth, this is the group of sweets that deserves the most caution, because they cling to the teeth for a long time. This article explains why and how to eat sweets with less harm, so that you can still enjoy a treat now and then.
Why hard and chewy sweets harm teeth
Hard candies dissolve slowly, so sugar stays in the mouth for many minutes and gives bacteria a long time to make acid. Chewy sweets stick firmly to the chewing surfaces and between the teeth, and saliva has trouble washing them off. Sour candies add a high acid level that softens enamel, and biting a hard candy hard can crack or chip a tooth.
Types to limit
- Chewy sweets, sticky toffee and caramel that cling for a very long time.
- Sour candies coated in sour powder with a high acid level.
- Hard candies sucked one after another through the whole day.
- Hard sweets that are bitten hard, especially on teeth with fillings or crowns.
It is not necessary to ban every sweet. The goal is simply to choose wisely and to limit how long sugar stays on the teeth.
How to eat sweets with less harm
Keep sweets for after a main meal instead of nibbling at random times. Afterwards, rinse your mouth with water, and if sweets stuck to your teeth, brush about half an hour later. Do not suck sweets at bedtime or keep snacking all day. Sugar free sweets or sugar free chewing gum may be less harmful. For young children, parents should limit the number of sweets and avoid using them as a regular reward.
You can read more in our articles on whether eating less sugar reduces cavities and whether chocolate harms teeth. If you notice dark holes or sensitivity after eating sweets, you can walk in during working hours or call the hotline 028.3868.1097.
Frequently asked questions
Do hard candies cause cavities?
Yes, because sugar stays in the mouth for a long time while sucking. Keep them for after meals and rinse.
Are sugar free sweets less harmful?
Usually yes, because they do not feed bacteria, but sour ones can still wear enamel.
How can children eat sweets safely?
Limit the number, give them after main meals and brush before bed.