A dental hygienist will not often recommend that you eat candy, but Ice Chips candy is the guilt-free sweet treat getting everyone's lips smacking that I can stand over!
I just love the story about how the sugar-free xylitol ice chips came about. Two "grannies in a garage" — Beverly Vines-Haines and Charlotte Clary — created and pitched their Ice Chips candy on Shark Tank.
The two grandmothers envisioned a safe confectionery for people with diabetes but also wanted something their many grandchildren could enjoy without harming their teeth. Things took off when they created a delicious, xylitol-sweetened treat that tasted much like actual candies but without the potential side effects. Go, grannies!
The Ice Chips Candy Shark Tank deal did not go through, but Beverly and Charlotte won the hearts of fans. Despite having little to no candy-making experience, they began churning out Ice Chips in their garage. Before long, people were asking for more, and news about the new delicious, guilt-free xylitol candy spread like wildfire! As more Ice candy flavors came about, retailers began expressing an interest in selling it at their stores.
So what are Ice Chips? Are there any negative Ice Chips candy side effects? Are they OK to eat, and do they help with dry mouth?
Ice Chips Candy ingredients
What are Ice Chips made of that makes them guilt-free? Let's break it down: The main ingredient is xylitol, but there are also certified natural organic flavors, citric acid, cream of tartar, and calcium stearate.
Big on flavor, low on calories
Ice chips are hard candies made from crystallized xylitol. Xylitol has a sweet taste and comes from fibrous plants such as birchwood for use as a sweetener to replace the calories from sugars and carbohydrates.
It looks and tastes like sugar but has an extremely low glycemic index (GI) of 8 and has 40% fewer calories. In comparison, an orange has a GI of 52. In other words, munching on Ice Chips candy, especially in small portions, won't significantly affect your blood sugar levels and calorie intake.
Oral health benefits of xylitol
Sucking on sugar-free xylitol candy is good for your oral health as it reduces the amount of cavity-causing bacteria in the mouth. For instance, it's common for people to chew on xylitol gums to stimulate saliva production, which keeps the mouth clean by slowing bacterial growth. The fewer bacteria in the mouth, the lower the chances of cavities and problems like bad breath. Simple!
There's also promising evidence that xylitol can help to remineralize the teeth, reversing damages caused by bacteria while soothing tooth sensitivity. Similarly, Ice Chips candy which uses xylitol as a sweetener, may offer the same oral health benefits.
Ice Chips for dry mouth
From an oral health perspective, sucking on Ice Chips is definitely better than reaching for other types of candy to satisfy your sweet tooth. In fact, it can also help relieve dry mouth since it increases saliva production. This saliva moisturizes the mouth without the presence of any harsh chemicals or sugar that can actually worsen dryness.
Deliciously addictive Ice Chips candy
Benefits aside, Ice Chips taste deliciously addictive! They even leave a pleasant, lasting cooling sensation in the mouth, making them an excellent way to freshen up your breath throughout the day. And, unlike other candies that use artificial sweeteners, there is no unpleasant aftertaste.
Cooling, refreshing, and most importantly, guilt-free, it's no wonder Ice Chips candy is so popular, especially during the summertime.
Where to buy Ice Chips candy?
Beverly and Charlotte's business has continued to grow, and in 2015, they successfully automated their candy-making process and moved to a larger facility. These days, you can buy all types of Ice candy flavors and have them delivered right to your doorstep on Amazon. You can also find them in your local stores.
There are many great options with exciting flavors like the new Root Beer Float, classic lemon, or sour cherry. Or you can opt for a variety pack to discover your favorite flavor. If you love coffee but don't want the jittery side effects, try the Ice Chips candy coffee flavor! You can even get Finding Dory-themed Ice Chips from their collaboration with Disney and Pixar.
The guilt-free sweet treat that everyone can enjoy
Ice Chips can be enjoyed by practically everyone, including adults, children, diabetics, vegans, those on a low-carb or sugar-free diet, or anyone with soy, wheat, dairy, or gluten intolerance and allergies. So, yes, you can go ahead and enjoy Ice Chips candy and the wonders it can do to satisfy cravings without adding any calories to the waistline or ruining your teeth! If you are a parent, you can relax knowing your children can also enjoy this treat without doing damage.
While habitually munching on most sugary, sweet treats can lead to tooth decay, switching to Ice Chips means you won't have to worry about cavities or any other oral health and health problems! In fact, you can feel confident that Ice Chips can help promote good oral health and banish harmful bacteria in your mouth, keeping it fresh, clean, and healthy.
I love them!