Is there a candy that is good for your teeth?

Whenever Halloween rolls around, I find myself thinking back on all the warnings from childhood about how bad all that candy is, especially for your teeth. Sure, there were alternatives like fruit and nuts that could be healthy, but aside from making a house very unpopular to trick or treaters, it still wasn’t candy. There were some sugar free options, but they didn’t taste much like the real deal. While I always understood why candy was bad, it never crossed my mind to consider whether there could be a version that was actually good for teeth. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case for a curious little 7-year old named Alina Morse.

Alina’s parents had given her similar warnings about how bad candy was for her teeth. So one day, when she was offered a lollipop on an ordinary visit to a bank with her dad, she faced a dilemma. Accept the offer, and possibly contribute to some cavities, or turn it down, even though she really wanted the candy. It prompted this smart, future entrepreneur to pose a question to her dad, “Why can’t we make a lollipop that’s actually good for your teeth?” While I feel like most dad’s would brush the question away, this dad decided to tackle it head on with his kid.

The Beginning

The duo began researching to determine if Alina’s dream was possible. Even at that tender age, she made her own calls and sent her own emails. From a dentist and hygenist she learned about ingredients that were used in sugar free mints and gum. Alina learned words like Xylitol and Erythritol. She and her dad also took some tours to learn more about how food was made in general. After two years, they had a viable plan, and in 2014, the first Zollipops hit store shelves. Alina had created a delicious, vegan, sugar-free candy with natural flavors.

Not only was this candy low in the sugar, which is known for rotting teeth, it could actually fight tooth decay. Zollipops work by helping to balance out the PH levels in your mouth, which is one of the leading causes of tooth decay and cavities. Xylitol prevents cavity-causing bacteria from adhering to teeth and producing acids that damage enamel. It also inhibits the growth of plaque-forming bacteria. 

The Evolution

Alina originally set her sights on getting her Zollipops into Whole Foods, and got there. Now, the products are also available at select Walmart, Meijer, Busch’s, Fresh Thyme, and other retailers. In all, you can find them in over 3,000 stores around the country, including in Alaska and Hawaii. Better yet, you can simply buy them online directly from the company.  The quest to create a healthy lollipop has led to additional products. The line now includes taffy, gummies, caramels, and even some chocolates.

The toughest aspect of the kidpreneurial journey, mirrors that of many entrepreneurs. According to Alina, “Pushing the needle on what you can and cannot create in this category, has been the hardest part. That, and navigating the supply chain.” Like many business leaders, she also acknowledges that having the confidence to make your vision happen can also be tough. Forthunately, she was a self-described theater kid, which she credits with helping her find that confidence. It probably also hasn’t hurt that her story has now been featured by Good Morning America, Forbes, People, Today, Inc., Fox Business, CNN, and a host of other media outlets.

Next Steps

Many people might be very satisfied to focus their attention 100% on the business they have built, but not this young CEO. Alina Morse decided she needed to go to college, and became a Michigan State Spartan. “It would be a disservice to myself if I didn’t do it, especially for the socialization aspect. I am surrounded by people my age with different life experiences. You can’t learn that in a business book.”

Aside from expanding her mind, she has also expanded her business to tackle a big problem. According to Alina, tooth decay is America’s single most chronic childhood disease. To help in that battle, she launched Zolli’s Million Smile Initiative. The campaign promotes oral health year-round and helps engage kids in discussions about science and chemistry, taking care of their bodies, empowerment, and entrepreneurship. So far, they have worked with over 16,000 schools. By the way, it only takes about 60 seconds for teachers to enroll their classroom in the program.

The original goal was to give away 100,000 Zollipops as part of the mission. To date, that number has grown to 2 million, with a new goal of 22 million. Based on her track record, that seems to be a safe bet.