Tooth-friendly facts for kids

The tooth-friendly label helps you find products that are safe for your teeth. These products won't cause cavities or wear down your teeth. Instead of regular sugar, tooth-friendly items often use special sweeteners. These sweeteners are not broken down by the tiny germs in your mouth that cause cavities. Also, tooth-friendly products do not have too much acid, which can harm your teeth.

How the Tooth-Friendly Label Started

In 1983, a group from the World Health Organization (WHO) suggested that people should be encouraged to eat "tooth-friendly" sweets.

In the early 1980s, dental schools in Switzerland wanted to help people keep their teeth healthy. They decided to start a new campaign. Instead of telling people not to eat sweets, they had a different idea. They wanted to teach people to choose only sweets that would not hurt their teeth.

This led to the creation of the "Toothfriendly" label, also known as the "Happy Tooth" label. This special symbol helps you spot products like candy, drinks, and medicines that have been scientifically tested. These tests prove the products do not cause cavities or wear down teeth.

How Products Are Tested for Tooth-Friendliness

To find out if a product is "tooth-friendly," scientists use a special test. It's called intraoral pH telemetry. This test measures the acidity (pH) in your mouth.

Here's how it works:

• A tiny sensor is placed in the mouth of volunteers.
• This sensor measures the pH level of the plaque on their teeth.
• The volunteers eat the product being tested.
• The pH is measured during and for 30 minutes after eating.
• If the product does not make the plaque pH drop below 5.7, it means it won't cause cavities.
• Scientists also check for "erosive potential," which means how much a product might wear away tooth enamel. The acid exposure must be very low.

Many health authorities around the world have checked and approved the science behind the "Toothfriendly" label. These include groups in Switzerland, the US, Germany, and Australia.

Sweeteners That Are Tooth-Friendly

Many different sweeteners can be used in tooth-friendly products. These sweeteners do not feed the bacteria in your mouth that cause cavities.

Some examples of these special sweeteners include:

• Sorbitol
• Maltitol
• Isomalt
• Xylitol
• Sucralose
• Stevia
• Isomaltulose
• Tagatose
• Mogroside
• Erythritol

About Toothfriendly International

Toothfriendly International is a non-profit group. It was started in 1989 in Basel, Switzerland. This organization is in charge of giving out the Toothfriendly label. They make sure that only products proven safe for teeth get the label.

The members of this group include:

• Dentists
• Dental and public health organizations
• Companies that make candy and oral care products

The Toothfriendly Foundation is a charity part of the association. This Foundation helps with projects to prevent cavities in countries that need more support.