Is Too Much Peppermint Candy Bad for Your Health?
Diet & NutritionNutrients & Supplements

Are Peppermint Candies Bad for You?

Are Peppermint Candies Bad for You?
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Updated on August 7, 2025
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"Everything in moderation" is advice often applied to beloved treats like peppermint candy. And, indeed, consuming this popular holiday staple in moderation is unlikely to pose major health risks.

But what is moderation, really? And what's the worst that could happen when we exceed this golden limit? Here we address these and many more questions.

What Is Peppermint Candy Made Of?

While there are many peppermint candies to choose from, most contain a combination of the same or similar ingredients: a sweetener like sugar, corn syrup to prevent crystallization of the sweetener, peppermint oil, and some kind of dye.

For example, the recognizable Starlight peppermint candy contains sugar, corn syrup, titanium dioxide (for white pigment), FD&C Red 40, and natural peppermint oil.

Is Peppermint Oil Safe?

Unless you have an allergy to plants of the mint family, candy made with real peppermint oil won't have any ill effects when eaten in normal amounts.

Beware of Artificial Dyes

Striped peppermint candy typically gets its classic red and white colors from artificial dyes like Red 40.

 In 2025, the FDA announced plans to remove this petroleum-based dye from the U.S. food supply. The dye has been linked with health problems in children, especially hyperactivity and behavioral issues.

If you have kids, consider going with a non-dyed mint candy to get that holiday taste without the risks that come with artificial dyes.

Peppermint Candy Clings to Your Teeth

Peppermint candy can cling to your teeth, increasing your risk of cavities.

Sugar is a danger to your teeth and gums, because it tends to adhere to your teeth, triggering the bacteria that's already in your mouth to release acids as they feed on the sugars.

 Therefore peppermint candies, famous for adhering to your teeth long after consumption, won't help the cause.

When you do enjoy hard candy, try to brush your teeth soon after consumption.

Who Should Avoid Peppermint Candy?

People with a history of gallstones, gallbladder inflammation, hiatal hernia, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) might benefit from avoiding peppermint.

Peppermint can stimulate bile flow. If bile ducts are blocked by gallstones, this increased flow can lead to pain or complications.

Peppermint can also relax the lower esophageal sphincter, the muscle that separates the esophagus from the stomach. This can allow stomach acid to flow back into the esophagus, exacerbating heartburn and other GERD symptoms.

Additionally, people taking certain medications may need to avoid having peppermint candy.

 If you are on a medication, talk to your doctor before consuming peppermint oil or applying it to the skin.

The Takeaway

  • Peppermint candies are primarily sugar and tend to adhere to teeth, putting you at risk of cavities.
  • The candies often contain artificial dyes like Red 40 which are linked to potential health and behavioral issues in children.
  • While typically safe, consuming very large amounts of peppermint oil (specifically menthol) can lead to toxic effects like nausea, dizziness, or even convulsions.
  • Individuals with gallstones, GERD, or those on certain medications should avoid peppermint, as it can worsen symptoms or interfere with treatment.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. FoodData Central: Candies, peppermint, hard. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. April 2019.
  2. Sunrise Starlight Peppermints 31 lb Bulk. Spangler Candy.
  3. Is Red Dye 40 Safe? Cleveland Clinic. March 2023.
  4. Halloween Survival Guide. MouthHealthy.org. American Dental Association (ADA).
  5. Sugars and dental caries. World Health Organization (WHO). November 2017.
  6. Peppermint. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. November 2023.
  7. Peppermint oil. Association for the Advancement of Restorative Medicine.
  8. Heartburn. Mayo Clinic. May 2022.
Additional Sources
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Kayli Anderson, RDN

Medical Reviewer
Member of American College of Lifestyle Medicine

Kayli Anderson has over a decade of experience in nutrition, culinary education, and lifestyle medicine. She believes that eating well should be simple, pleasurable, and sustainabl...

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Ellen Douglas

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Ellen Douglas has written for fitness-oriented sites such as everydayhealth, JillianMichaels.com, AZCentral Healthy Living and eHow. She also provides informational articles for cl...

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