Generations of dentists have been advising their patients to not eat sweets. Not surprisingly, such advice was rarely followed. Realistic advice is, therefore, to recommend toothfriendly alternatives - sweets that are safe for teeth.

The idea of supporting toothfriendly sweets dates back from 1983, when a committee of the World Health Organisation (WHO), recommended the consumption of non-cariogenic confectionery. The Swiss University Dental Schools took the initiative of introducing the Happy Tooth as a symbol of toothfriendly quality.

The Happy Tooth symbol is the guide to guaranteed toothfriendly products. The Happy Tooth may only be used on sweets that have no risk for caries or erosion demonstrated in a scientific pH-test.

In the pH-test, the acid concentration is measured under the dental plaque during and for 30 minutes after consumption of a test product. Products, which do not depress the plaque pH below the critical level of 5.7, are considered to be "toothfriendly", i.e. safe for the teeth. At present, three University Dental Institutes conduct routinely such tests. Read here more about the test method.

Why not give your patients sweet advice? Sweets with the Happy Tooth are guaranteed toothfriendly and can be enjoyed any time without risk to teeth.

Download PDF: Sweet advice

See here the worldwide list of toothfriendly sweets.