[Candy sprays and -gels: effect on salivary flow and pH].

After seeing a child with dental erosion in a pediatric dental clinic the fondness and use of sweets were asked. With a questionnaire it became clear that recently various candy sprays and -gels are available to keep a sweet and fresh taste in the mouth at school. The buffer capacity of a number of sprays and gels were determined and they were tested in the mouth. The taste determines the increase in salivary flow rate. The effects of a taste stimulus on increasing the flow rate and decreasing the pH disappear within 2 until 3 minutes. Concluding: the Candy sprays and particularly the Juicy Drop Pop belong, from the dental point of view, to children sweets with high risk for dental caries and erosion. The use of these fluid sweets has to be reduced as much as possible.