With Easter just a few days away, many people are trying to decide how they can stock their baskets with sinfully sweet goodies without filling their mouths with cavities.

"Marshmallow eggs are probably more detrimental (than chocolate) as far as tooth decay goes," said Nancy Slaggert, a dental hygienist in State College.

Slaggert added it is better on the teeth to eat all Easter candy at one time than to eat it over a period of time.

"Sugar causes non-acidic pH in the saliva to drop down to an acidic state for about 20 minutes," Slaggert said, adding that this is enough time for tooth decay processes to begin.

According to the Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program, research conducted at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology suggests chocolate may actually prevent rather than cause tooth decay

"I don't know if it's bad for you, I'm not too much into candy," said Kristine Metzger (senior-environmental resource management).

"Easter candy isn't good for you, but a little wouldn't hurt," said Janice Rogers (freshman-business).

The Dairy Promotion Program also has cited research to refute myths about chocolate and other confections.

The program cited a study from Michigan State University on hyperactivity in children which shows a child would have to eat more than 50 chocolate bars to be even slightly affected by the caffeine content of the chocolate.

Easter is second only to Christmas as the biggest chocolate retailing season, with $815 million in national chocolate sales anticipated this year, according to the Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program.

Americans consume 11 pounds of chocolate per capita per year, which includes the luxury of chocolate Easter bunnies and chocolate Easter eggs.

And while chocolate is often thought of as a non-nutritious food, a 1.5 ounce bar of unsweetened or semisweet chocolate contains only 1.5 milligrams of sodium compared to 132 milligrams in one slice of whole wheat bread.