Candy That Prevents Cavities

Responsible parents limit their children's candy intake knowing very well that candy is bad for their health. Besides the growing obesity problem in the US, tooth decay is a primary concern. The numbers are alarming with over 40% of children and adolescents experiencing dental caries. Now a UCLA scientist, Wenyuan Shi, has developed a lollipop that actually prevents tooth decay. This new type of candy could give parents a piece of mind in terms of oral health as well as obesity. But it is also a first step in developing alternative testing and treatment methods in regard to bacteria based health problems. Could the answer to our problems be in ancient Chinese medicine and herbs? And are there other tasty treatment methods on the horizon?

It has become more and more common among western scientists and medical practitioners to look into ancient traditional medicine in order to treat common ailments. Especially ancient Chinese medical treatments are of interest to these scientists, with its wealth of thousands and thousands of medicinal herbs. Now one of those herbs, a compound of licorice, has been found to prevent tooth decay. And the compound is delivered in what tooth-decay fearing parents try to limit the most, lollipops!

According to a report based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and published on the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 41% of young children had primary tooth caries and 42% of adolescents and 90% of adults had permanent tooth caries (in the time frame from 1999-2002). These numbers are cause for concern.

Tooth decay, better known as the term 'caries', occurs, when a tooth's enamel is slowly destroyed by acid produced by bacteria in the mouth. The bacteria are normally present in the mouth. Their purpose is to break down carbohydrate containing food residues on the teeth (food containing sugars and starches). The outcome is acid, which in the long run combines with other food residue and saliva to build plaque on the teeth. This in turn can lead to cavities and tooth loss.