Lollipops for the Prevention of Dental Decay-Too Good to be True?

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The European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry have found that children who eat sugar-free lollipops made with liquorice extract are more immune from the effects of dental bacteria.

The research was conducted throughout 66 schools, with the help of students between the ages of 2 and 5, who were given a lollipop twice a day for 10 minutes over a 3-week period. The team found that this helped reduce the levels of Streptococcus mutans, which is the main culprit in the development of tooth decay.

Delta Dental’s Research and Data Institute provided the funding for the project, which was carried out by the Greater Lansing Area Head Start Program, the University of California Los Angeles and the University of Michigan. The collaboration hoped to find simple, affordable solutions for the prevention of dental disease and were very pleased by the outcome of the lollipop research.

Martin Curzon the editor-in-chief of the European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry said, “The use of the licorice root lollipops is an ideal approach as it will stop the transfer and implantation of the bacteria that cause dental decay from the mothers to their infants and toddlers. It also has the merit of being a low cost-high impact public health measure.”

The orange-flavoured lollipops also proved a hit with the young research participants- who said good dental health couldn’t be tasty?

 

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