What if there was candy that was good for you? This question came to Alina Morse, the 12-year-old founder of Zollipops – a candy company that makes products designed to promote the health of your teeth rather than harm them. Alina got her start when she raised the question of healthy candy to her father, who encouraged her to do further research. After consulting with dental hygienists and candy manufacturers, Alina developed a lollipop with natural sweeteners such as xylitol and erythritol which allowed her candy to be sweet without being harmful to teeth. These sweeteners as well as other natural substances affect the pH of the mouth in such a way that bacteria and plaque are unable to form on the surface of teeth, promoting healthy teeth and gums.

After further input from her allergenic friends, Alina went to market with lollipops that were advertised as “sugar-free, gluten-free, non-GMO, vegan, dairy-free, and naturally colored.” Morse was then invited to pitch to the investors on Shark Tank, signing an NDA on the terms of any deal she may have signed.

In just a few years, Zollipops have sold over $2 million in healthy candy, expanding their product line to include other items such as taffy. 10% of the profits are donated to oral healthcare education, keeping with the mission of the company to promote healthy smiles nationwide. In recent days, Alina has been working on expanding the product line further but is remembering to stop and enjoy her success.