One Type of Sweets May Ward Off Tooth Decay By Containing Bacteria

Sweets made of bacteria may be effective in fighting tooth decay, a recent study finds.

The candies are designed to stop bugs that cause tooth decay from sticking to the teeth's surface where erosions are normally triggered. Rather, the bacteria are swallowed in saliva and then flushed out of the body. The sweets that are designed to also be sugar-free work by using a 'friendly' probiotic bacteria also known as lactobacillus paracasei to bind the harmful type of bacteria known as streptococcus mutans.

Once the candy is sucked, the friendly bacteria are immediately released into the saliva and then they lock on to the corrosive type, forming a clump, which reduces the harmful bacteria's ability to stick to the surfaces of the teeth. Developed by German firm Organobalance GMBH, the boiled sweets could be targeted at children to try to prevent the onset of tooth decay. A recent study suggests that on average, one in four five-year olds in England already suffer from tooth decay. At the moment, the only effective way of reducing bacteria is by brushing and flossing regularly.

Researchers involved in the development of the sweets tested saliva samples to measure levels of the tooth-eating organism. They found out that 75 percent of those given the bacteria-loaded sweets had significantly lower levels of streptococcus mutans after only eating one sweet. The results of the study were published in the journal Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins. The product will be made available next year or two years from now. Scientists are also currently developing toothpastes and mouthwashes containing the friendly bacteria.

Dr. Nigel Carter, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation said: "This adds to the growing belief that probiotics have an important role to play in improving oral health."