"dentist" news and stories

We are entering a whole new era in dentistry. One in which we'll be able to eat candy to prevent cavities. Specifically, we'll be able to suck on a licorice lollipop.

Scientists from UCLA School of Dentistry have developed this sugar free treat using Glycyrrhiza uralensis, which is "a liquorice root extract that destroys the bacteria responsible for dental cavities." The extract doesn't kill other bacteria necessary for a healthy mouth.

The developers collaborated with scientists in China to work out what kind of herbs to use. Once they had determined what would work, they had to create a delivery vehicle. Lollipops were chosen because they are consumed slowly, giving the active ingredients time to work their magic. Only 15 milligrams of licorice root powder are needed to kill the harmful bacteria, Streptococcus mutans.

So one day soon we'll be able to prevent cavities with lollipops. Maybe next we'll have plaque scraping treats and edibles that floss for us. Though it is still a thing of the present, this gives me hope that a trip to the dentist will one day be a thing of the past.

[Via ConfectioneryNews]

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Now and Later the hard taffy candy has two new flavors, Mango and Strawberry / Banana Split to their line-up of around 20 flavors. They are called Now and Later, as their slogan says, because they are "Hard 'N Fruity Now and Soft 'N Chewy Later." They are tough to chew at first, but then after a lot of work they eventually soften up a bit like a hard taffy.

I remember Now and Later fondly from when I was a kid. My favorites were banana and pineapple, and always wished they made hot cinnamon flavor. I never actually needed to buy any of them. My experience was that adults who had never tried the candy themselves gave them to kids for Halloween. I assume they never tried them, because they are probably the dentists best friend. They were guaranteed to pull out all the fillings in my teeth and send me immediately to the torturer, uh, dentist... for a nice relaxing visit. My first dentist, in Park Slope, Brooklyn, didn't believe in Novocaine. I think he felt that pain helped build character. Maybe that's why I am such a character today? So now you know who to blame. Oh, and don't you go blaming me if you try the new flavors and end up visiting your dentist for a nice friendly visit or three.

Red wine still isn't the best drink for teeth because, like coffee, it can stain the enamel. But new studies show that it may help fight and prevent gum disease, periodontitis. Canadian scientists say that the antioxidant properties of polyphenols in red wine can fight the free radicals released by the bacteria that cause gum disease. This will reduce inflammation and decrease the severity of the disease, though there has not been a conclusive link shown between wine drinkers and a reduced risk of periodontitis yet. For non-drinkers, these same polyphenols have been found in cranberry juice, as well as red wine.

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