
by Erika Feltham, RDH
In Jan/Feb 2008, Hygienetown Magazine printed an exclusive article titled "Acid Blast
In A Sugar Bath." Much has happened since then. Some news is good and then there is some
disappointing news on this front as well.
The Hygienetown article, along with several other articles which describe the dental dangers
of sour acid candy, has opened the eyes and ears of many dental professionals on this subject.
Dedicated dental hygienists and dentists are striving to create greater public awareness
within their practices and communities. Patients are now being warned about the dental dangers
from consuming sour acid candies and from holding these candies in the mouth for
prolonged periods of time. Some packages of sour candy actually suggest the candy should be
held in the mouth for several minutes, to prove tenacity and compete with friends for the
longest time. This might provide fun competition for children, but lowering the pH of the
mouth for several minutes begins the demineralization process on enamel.
Other exciting news to report is that in 2009 the
California Dental Hygienists' Association (CDHA)
took formal action to establish its position on the
subject of sour acid candy. CDHA was the first state
dental hygiene association to unanimously adopt the
following resolution:
CDHA advocates for FDA regulations on labeling of
packages of candies with pH levels of less then 5.5 as
having adverse effects on hard tooth structures.
Justification: CDHA recognizes the need to combat the new generation of highly acidic sour candies
that combine the sweet (sugar or sugar substitutes) and sour (acid) ingredients that are
destructive, causing dental demineralization which leads to erosion on hard tooth structure.
Passage of this resolution by the CDHA was a step in the right direction. However, the
California resolution is just the first of many resolutions needed to actually move the FDA to
action. Approaching the FDA with a request for package label warnings on sour candy having
a pH of 5.5 and below will need the support of many states and eventually our national associations,
both dental and dental hygiene. The seriousness of the acid demineralization of tooth
enamel from sour acid candy is very real and affecting children of all ages.
My challenge to you is to bring this topic up for discussion at your next dental or dental
hygiene meeting. With enough support, you, too, can submit a sour acid candy resolution to
your next House of Delegates meeting. Industry, government and consumer press take resolutions
passed by our professional organizations seriously. They look to these resolutions to
determine what we are willing to take a stand on and therefore what actions they should take
to follow our lead. We can each bring this subject to the attention of our individual patients,
but it is only through working together that we will be able to influence the labeling on sour
acid candy packages. Until then, consumers will think it's just
candy, no worse than any other sweet treat. To their surprise,
these candies with pH levels below 5.5 have the potential to
cause serious dental damage.
To present a sour acid candy resolution
at your next House of Delegates
meeting, contact Erika Feltham, RDH,
at erikafeltham@mac.com for all the
paperwork. It's ready to go!
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Erika B. Feltham, RDH, graduated in 1982 from Pasadena
College. Happily married and the mother of three boys, Erika
currently works for Dr. Edwin Stewart in Fallbrook, CA. She is
a 2008 Johnson & Johnson ADHA Hygiene Hero Honoree
and has written several articles, including the Jan/Feb 2008
Hygienetown Short Commentary "Acid Blast in A Sugar Bath." |