Science Makes Gummi Bears That Prevent Tooth Decay
Good news from scientists–Gummi Bears can actually be produced that are good for you, or at least for your teeth. The sugar-alcohol xylitol that is added to this delicious snack food reduces the number of bad bacteria in your mouth.
Xylitol has been used to manufacture gummy bears to produce an unlikely result– they can help prevent dental problems. Children were given four of the xylitol bears three times a day during school hours which resulted in a lowering of the plaque producing bacteria that lead to tooth decay.
Xylitol is a natural sugar-alcohol that is commonly used to sweeten gum and candy. Xylitol has been shown to lower the levels of the harmful streptococci mutans (MS) bacteria which commonly lead to tooth decay. Xylitol chewing gum is available but is usually not considered to be suitable for young children. The current study was led by Kiet A. Ly from the University of Washington.
Dr. Kiet A. Ly says, “For xylitol to be successfully used in oral health promotion programmes amongst primary-school children, an effective means of delivering xylitol must be identified. Gummy bears would seem to be more ideal than chewing gum.”
The young participants in the study were received four gummis three times daily–these had different amounts of xylitol. Study results indicated that after six weeks of xylitol gummy snacking, the numbers of harmful streptococci mutans (MS) bacteria in the children’s mouths was significantly lowered. Dr. Ly stated that study shows that it is possible to develop a clinical trial of a gummi candy based tooth decay prevention trial. A study of this concept is now being carried out in the East Cleveland primary school district .
Tooth decay is an extremely common disease worldwide. The use of Xylitol gummi bears at school would be a well tolerated and probably very safe means of reducing the this chronic childhood disease in many parts of the world.
