Mints without sugar You won't have to worry about plaque development if you don't consume sugar. Furthermore, multiple studies have indicated that xylitol, a component in many sugarless mints and gums, reduces the number of cavity-causing bacteria in your mouth. It also has been shown to reduce the incidence of urinary tract infections in women who use tampons daily. Mints with sugar Although the sugar in mints is usually sucrose (table sugar), some brands may use high-fructose corn syrup instead. This is because more than half of the world's sugar comes from corn - mostly in the form of fructose - and the other half comes from sugar cane and beets. Both fructose and glucose enter our bodies unchanged but they are processed differently by our bodies. Some scientists believe that the amount of energy we get from fructose is stored as fat more easily than glucose, which may explain why people often feel bloated and have excess fat around their midsection after eating sweets containing fructose. The American Cancer Society recommends that you limit your intake of candy and desserts to no more than 25 percent of your total calories per day from sugar. That means if you eat cookies for lunch and dinner, you should not have any more than 12 cookies for each meal. If you want to add flavor to foods you eat every day, consider adding some mint leaves to your salad or soup.