Are Tic Tacs bad for overnight dry mouth?
Dear Dr. Gott: As a DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery), I would like to commend you for the answer you gave the woman who sought your advice regarding the use of Tic Tacs for relief of her dry-mouth syndrome. I would also like to offer a comment or two. The problem with Tic Tacs is the same as with Life Savers, lollipops, cough drops, mints, etc. Acid is used for the flavoring – malic acid for mints and citric acid for fruit flavors. So when you suck on one of those objects, you are releasing acid directly against the teeth. Sugar does not cause cavities; rather, it reacts with the bacteria present in the mouth and forms an acid that causes the cavities. Placing one of those items next to the teeth releases the acid directly on the teeth – you cut out the “middleman” and go “direct.” I once had a patient who had a bad sinus problem, and he thought if he dissolved cough drops in his mouth on the side where his nose was clogged, it would help. I don’t know what good it did for the sinus prob
