subject: Candy that fights tooth decay and gum disease [print this page] Candy that fights tooth decay and gum disease
Tooth decay and gum disease are common, among both kids and adults. Both can often be prevented to a large extent with regular brushing and flossing. And, surprising as this may sound, now with a little support from the candy front. Dental researchers working with food experts are finding new types of candygummy bears, mints, lollipops, chewing gumthat can help give that extra daily boost in the fight against tooth decay and gum disease. Isn't that really sweet?
Sugary foods are often blamed for cavities and gum disease. So fighting tooth decay with sugar is really counterintuitive to say the least. But that is exactly what an article published in AGD Impact, the monthly news magazine of the Academy of General Dentistry, recommends. The sugar' they are referring to is Xylitol, a sugar alcohol found naturally in plants, including fruits such as plums, raspberries, and strawberries. It is safe for human consumption because it is also found naturally in the human liver.
The value of Xylitol in preventing tooth decay and gum disease is due to its not breaking down in the mouth, unlike regular sugar, or Sucrose. When sucrose breaks down in the mouth, it creates acidity that work in harmful ways by wearing down the tooth enamel and also creating an ideal environment for cavity inducing bacteria.
Xylitol is an all-purpose sweetner and is included in many products aimed at helping people seeking an easy way out from tooth decay and gum disease. Candies, mints, chewing gums and lemonade mixes with Xylitol can help people improve oral hygiene in addition to brushing and flossing. If you are interested, there are also toothpastes that contain Xylitol.
One thing you must never do is feed your pets with Xylitol products. It can be deadly for dogs.
There are other candies in the cavity fighting arena. Oral biologists have come up with mints containing an ingredient called Cavistat which has two components that protect teeth.
Firstly, when certain mouth bacteria break down the arginine, an amino acid in Cavistat, it neutralizes the acidity created by sugars in the mouth. Low acidity levels help in preventing damage to teeth. Cavistat also introduces other chemical compounds that protect the minerals of the teeth from dissolving.
Studies have shown that children who ate two of these mints twice a day for one year had 68 percent fewer cavities in their molars than children who didn't chew the mints.
One more thing: Before you go shopping for candy to fight cavities and gum disease, consult your dentist on what is best for you and your kids.
