Either you like the sour taste on your tongue and the soreness in your mouth afterwards, or you'd rather drink big white wine than eat sour candies. Sour candies may be delicious in small doses, but too many in a short period of time can lead to sore gums, sore cheeks, and even a peeling tongue if you're like Chrissy Teigen. If you're wondering why sour candies make your mouth feel sore, like you just chewed a bunch of metal shavings, it has to do with the irritating nature of the acid.
"Sour candies taste sour because they contain acid," Dr. Heather Kunen, DDS, an orthodontist and co-founder of Beam Street Dentistry, tells Bustle. Citric acid, commonly found in citrus fruits such as lemons and limes, is a common ingredient, as are ascorbic acid, fumaric acid, and tartaric acid. They are all natural ingredients found in fruits and vegetables. Long-lasting sour candies also contain malic acid, which is found in apples, cherries, and tomatoes, and it prolongs the candy's bitter taste when you suck on it.
The lower the pH of a food, the more acidic it is, and sour candy has a very low pH, around 3.0. For comparison, sour cream has a pH of about 4.5 and PowerAde Lemon Lime has a pH of about 2.75. That's why lemon juice and other candies give your taste buds such a kick, tempered by the sweetness of the confectioners' sugar.
A little of it might be your favorite feeling, but too much might have you reaching for water. "If you eat large amounts of these highly acidic foods, you may find that the inside of your mouth feels uncomfortable or even burns," says Dr. Coonan. Too many slugs and acid begin to accumulate in your mouth and begin to cause damage to the surrounding tissues and surfaces. It has been reported that when people eat large amounts of sour candies in one sitting, they can experience burns and blisters on their tongues, as well as damage to tooth enamel. Eating an entire box in one sitting might make your mouth hate you a little.
"The best way to deal with this discomfort is to rinse with water or even consume dairy products," says Dr. Coonan. Eating some cheese, yogurt or milk has two benefits, she says. For one, they help neutralize the pH balance of your mouth, making it less acidic and more comfortable. (That's why dairy is also a good choice when you're eating too many spicy foods.) "They also contain a protein called casein, which helps protect our tooth enamel," she says, so yours Your teeth may thank you.
good news? If your tongue starts to peel, like Teigen did, it's a sign that the tissue is starting to heal after being exposed to a lot of acid. This can also make your mouth more sensitive as new cells grow. Blisters, sore spots in your mouth, and pain when chewing are all signs that you should gradually reduce sour sweets until your mouth is fully healed. That's okay: You can just listen to Lady Gaga until you're ready for gummy worms again.
expert:
Dr. Heather Kunen, DDS
