Are Candy Canes and Christmas Candy Bad for Your Teeth? - River Run Dental (2024)

FAQs

Are Candy Canes and Christmas Candy Bad for Your Teeth? - River Run Dental? ›

This may surprise you as candy canes don't typically taste very sweet. When you suck on a candy cane, you're spreading sugar around your mouth. Those sugars are then sticking to your teeth and gums and welcoming cavity causing bacteria.

Tooth decay

It's also important to remember that candy canes contain sugar. Frequent exposure to candy canes can cause the sugar to stick to your teeth, giving the damaging bacteria in your mouth something to thrive off of. Candy canes are also a little sticky, so the sugar can be difficult to completely scrub away.

Sticky or chewy candy is top of the list for candy to avoid. This is because the chewier and stickier a candy is, the more likely that it will leave a sugary residue in the crevices of your teeth or between your teeth.

These candies can be hazardous from many sides. See, candy canes are made entirely out of sugar. Sugar, as a general rule of thumb, is a problem for teeth because it fuels the bacteria living on your teeth. Over time, these bacteria turn into acids and break down the teeth causing cavities or worse problems.

Chewy Candies: Caramel, toffee, Twizzlers, fudge, and other chewy treats might hit your sweet spot – and then stay there for some time. Since these candies stick to your teeth, they have the staying power that provides bacteria with ample opportunity to consume the sugar, producing acids.

Peanut Butter: Peanut butter is a thick, sticky food that typically contains large amounts of sugar. This sugar comes into contact with and sticks to teeth, where it can begin to damage the teeth if not properly removed in a timely manner.

But at 120 calories and 16 grams of sugar for three pieces, Twizzlers aren't a terrible choice if you eat less than the serving size. Cassetty suggests limiting yourself to one Twizzler (so that you stay at about five grams of sugar) and taking your time eating it.

While candy canes are delicious, they can be damaging because of their high sugar content. This may surprise you as candy canes don't typically taste very sweet. When you suck on a candy cane, you're spreading sugar around your mouth.

How many peppermint candies can you eat? ›

According to the American Dental Association, peppermint candy's sugar content is a risk to oral health; three pieces of peppermint candy have approximately 15 grams or one tablespoon of sugar. Eating these three pieces with other sugar sources for a day makes them excessive.

Menthol can also act as a potent decongestant and can clear a stuffy nose and make it easier to breathe. Peppermint works as an expectorant because menthol thins mucus, loosen phlegm and breaks up coughs. Pain Relief: Peppermint-flavored candy can be used to dull some aches and pains.

The heat in hot water makes the molecules move faster, which is why the hot water dissolves the candy cane faster than the cold water.

Gummy candies and other chewy, sticky goodies are the worst for your teeth because they get stuck on the surfaces and in between teeth, and they don't go away until you brush and floss. The longer those sugars coat your teeth, the higher your risk of damaging your enamel and getting cavities.

According to the American Dental Association, peppermint candy's sugar content is a risk to oral health; three pieces of peppermint candy have approximately 15 grams or one tablespoon of sugar. Eating these three pieces with other sugar sources for a day makes them excessive.

Hard candies, like Jolly Ranchers, Peppermints, Cinnamon Discs, and Butterscotch are deceiving. They don't look like they could cause a lot of damage to your teeth, but they can. The hard texture of the candy can cause severe damage to your teeth.

In populations with a low caries prevalence, sugar cane chewing has been shown to increase caries scores, suggesting a negative impact on dental health ².