Toothfriendly
Encyclopedia
Toothfriendly products are safe for teeth. To replace sugar, toothfriendly products often contain sweeteners (polyols, intense sweeteners) that are not fermented by the microflora of the dental plaque. Products that are certified as toothfriendly also do not contain excessive amounts of food acids. Toothfriendly sweets - mints, chewing gum, lollipops, and chocolate - can be enjoyed at any time, without any risk to teeth.
In 1983, a WHO working group
recommended that the consumption of non-cariogenic "toothfriendly" confectionery should be encouraged.
To provide consumers with easy guidance to toothfriendly products, the Happy Tooth
symbol was created. This registered quality mark distinguishes products (confectionery
, beverage, sweeteners, medicine) that have been proven in a scientific test to lack both a cariogenic
and erosive potential.
The "toothfriendliness" of a product is tested by means of intraoral pH
telemetry
. Applying a standardized method, the plaque
pH is measured at least in four volunteers during and for 30 minutes after consumption of the product with an indwelling, interproximally-placed, plaque-covered electrode. Products that do not lower plaque pH below 5.7, under the conditions of this test, lack a cariogenic potential. The erosive potential is measured with a plaque-free electrode. The acid exposure of the teeth must not exceed 40 micromol H min.
Some examples of toothfriendly sweeteners are: isomalt
, xylitol, sucralose
, stevia
, and erythritol.
Toothfriendly International certifies products that have been tested and proven to be safe for teeth. It is a non-profit association established in 1989 in Basel
, Switzerland
. Since then, the association has been granting the rights for the Happy Tooth
quality mark to distinguish products that are not harmful for teeth.
The members of the organization are prevention-minded dentists, dental and public health institutions, confectionery and oral care manufacturers.
The Toothfriendly Foundation is the charitable arm of the association. The Foundation is responsible for caries
prevention projects in less-developed countries.
In 1983, a WHO working group
Working group
A working group is an interdisciplinary collaboration of researchers working on new research activities that would be difficult to develop under traditional funding mechanisms . The lifespan of the WG can last anywhere between a few months and several years...
recommended that the consumption of non-cariogenic "toothfriendly" confectionery should be encouraged.
To provide consumers with easy guidance to toothfriendly products, the Happy Tooth
Happy Tooth
The Happy Tooth is a registered trademark which stands for guaranteed toothfriendly quality.The Happy Tooth mark distinguishes products that are not harmful for teeth. All products carrying the Happy Tooth symbol have been scientifically tested and found not to be cariogenic or erosive.The...
symbol was created. This registered quality mark distinguishes products (confectionery
Confectionery
Confectionery is the set of food items that are rich in sugar, any one or type of which is called a confection. Modern usage may include substances rich in artificial sweeteners as well...
, beverage, sweeteners, medicine) that have been proven in a scientific test to lack both a cariogenic
Dental caries
Dental caries, also known as tooth decay or a cavity, is an irreversible infection usually bacterial in origin that causes demineralization of the hard tissues and destruction of the organic matter of the tooth, usually by production of acid by hydrolysis of the food debris accumulated on the...
and erosive potential.
The "toothfriendliness" of a product is tested by means of intraoral pH
PH
In chemistry, pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. Pure water is said to be neutral, with a pH close to 7.0 at . Solutions with a pH less than 7 are said to be acidic and solutions with a pH greater than 7 are basic or alkaline...
telemetry
Telemetry
Telemetry is a technology that allows measurements to be made at a distance, usually via radio wave transmission and reception of the information. The word is derived from Greek roots: tele = remote, and metron = measure...
. Applying a standardized method, the plaque
Dental plaque
Dental plaque is a biofilm, usually a pale yellow, that develops naturally on the teeth. Like any biofilm, dental plaque is formed by colonizing bacteria trying to attach themselves to a smooth surface...
pH is measured at least in four volunteers during and for 30 minutes after consumption of the product with an indwelling, interproximally-placed, plaque-covered electrode. Products that do not lower plaque pH below 5.7, under the conditions of this test, lack a cariogenic potential. The erosive potential is measured with a plaque-free electrode. The acid exposure of the teeth must not exceed 40 micromol H min.
Some examples of toothfriendly sweeteners are: isomalt
Isomalt
Isomalt is a sugar substitute, a type of sugar alcohol, used primarily for its sugar-like physical properties. It has only a small impact on blood sugar levels and does not promote tooth decay. It has 2 kilocalories/g, half the calories of sugars...
, xylitol, sucralose
Sucralose
Sucralose is an artificial sweetener. The majority of ingested sucralose is not broken down by the body and therefore it is non-caloric. In the European Union, it is also known under the E number E955. Sucralose is approximately 600 times as sweet as sucrose , twice as sweet as saccharin, and 3.3...
, stevia
Stevia
Stevia is a genus of about 240 species of herbs and shrubs in the sunflower family , native to subtropical and tropical regions from western North America to South America. The species Stevia rebaudiana, commonly known as sweetleaf, sweet leaf, sugarleaf, or simply stevia, is widely grown for its...
, and erythritol.
Toothfriendly International certifies products that have been tested and proven to be safe for teeth. It is a non-profit association established in 1989 in Basel
Basel
Basel or Basle In the national languages of Switzerland the city is also known as Bâle , Basilea and Basilea is Switzerland's third most populous city with about 166,000 inhabitants. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. Since then, the association has been granting the rights for the Happy Tooth
Happy Tooth
The Happy Tooth is a registered trademark which stands for guaranteed toothfriendly quality.The Happy Tooth mark distinguishes products that are not harmful for teeth. All products carrying the Happy Tooth symbol have been scientifically tested and found not to be cariogenic or erosive.The...
quality mark to distinguish products that are not harmful for teeth.
The members of the organization are prevention-minded dentists, dental and public health institutions, confectionery and oral care manufacturers.
The Toothfriendly Foundation is the charitable arm of the association. The Foundation is responsible for caries
Dental caries
Dental caries, also known as tooth decay or a cavity, is an irreversible infection usually bacterial in origin that causes demineralization of the hard tissues and destruction of the organic matter of the tooth, usually by production of acid by hydrolysis of the food debris accumulated on the...
prevention projects in less-developed countries.