Sugar-free candy can fight cavity-causing bacteria on teeth

Here's some good news for people who enjoy sweet treats but are wary of tooth decay. Researchers have developed a new 'sugarfree' candy that reduces the amount of cavity-causing bacteria on the teeth.

The candy, developed by Christine Lang of Berlinbased biotech firm Organobalance and her colleagues, contains dead bacteria that bind to the bacteria most likely to cause cavities.

Subjects who ate the candy had reduced levels of 'bad' bacteria in their mouths. After you eat, bacteria attached to the surface of your teeth release acid. This acid dissolves your tooth enamel. As the enamel wears down, cavities can develop.

Researchers said the strain of bacteria most likely to cause cavities in humans is Mutans streptococci. When you chew, you shed Mutans streptococci into your saliva. Swallowing or spitting removes some of the bacteria from your mouth after you finish chewing. The remaining bacteria reattach themselves to your teeth. (Read: 10 common queries on oral hygiene answered)

Another type of bacteria, Lactobacillus paracasei, found in the fermented milkbased drink kefir, reduces levels of Mutans streptococci and decreases the number of cavities in rats, researchers found. Sugar on the surface of Lactobacillus paracasei binds with Mutans streptococci. Researchers believe that by binding with Mutans streptococci, Lactobacillus paracasei prevents Mutans streptococci from reattaching to teeth.

To test whether Lactobacillus paracasei could help prevent cavities in people, Lang and her colleagues developed a sugar-free candy that contains heat-killed samples of the bacteria. The team then tested the sugarfree candy on 60 volunteers.

After the experiment, about three-fourths of the people who had consumed candies with bacteria displayed significantly lower levels of Mutans streptococci in their saliva than they had had the day before, the report said. Subjects who consumed candies with two milligrammes of bacteria experienced a reduction in Mutans streptococci levels after eating the first candy.

By using the dead bacteria , they were able to avoid problems that the live bacteria might have caused, the researchers said.

Other foods for healthy teeth

While there's no substitute for good oral hygiene, here are some food items that can boost your oral health:

Got milk?

Calcium is essential for healthy and strong teeth. And dairy products are the best sources of dietary calcium. Dairy products like cheese and yoghurt not only contain minerals like calcium and phosphorus but also protein casein that can keep your teeth free from cavity by remineralisation of tooth enamel.

Tank up on veggies

High fibre vegetables like spinach, carrots, celery, etc. have abrasive quality which helps clean stains from your teeth. They also stimulate saliva production which not only neutralises harmful acids in the mouth but also provide calcium and phosphates for remineralisation. Onions can help fight tooth decay causing bacteria. Green leafy vegetables are also rich in calcium. (Also read: 10 ways you can prevent dental cavities)

Fruit 'em up

Fruits, like crunchy vegetables, are fibrous and help stimulate production of saliva. They are also good sources of various vitamins and minerals that are good for your teeth. Apple is a fibrous, crunchy fruit with natural cleansing and astringent properties. Pear fruit has been found to have good acid neutralizing effect on surfaces of the tooth.

Drink to your oral health

Drink plenty of water. It can help wash off sugars and acid from your teeth. Better still if the water is fluoridated! Fluoride has been proven to strengthen the enamel and prevent cavities. It is especially effective when used early on in childhood. (Read more: Top 10 foods for healthier teeth)

With inputs from PTI

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