Fighting tooth decay could one day be as simple as popping in a piece of candy. Microbiologists from Berlin are currently working on a new probiotic-laced mint that removes cavity-causing germs from your teeth. “Our mouths are microbial jungles,” said Michaeleen Doucleff in NPR.org. The human oral cavity plays host to more than 600 species of bacteria, most of them harmless. The probiotic used in the sugarless mint, Lactobacillus paracasei, is normally found in kefir and yogurt. It is known to attach itself to and neutralize Streptococcus mutans, which transforms leftover sugars into enamel-damaging acid. In theory, this should help fight cavities, though the reduction of harmful bacteria is quite small at this preliminary stage of the product development. Still, dental experts are optimistic about potential applications. “Eat candy and fight tooth decay—what a sweet concept, right?”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Road trip: New England’s maple syrup seasonFeature New England is serving up maple syrup in delicious and unexpected ways
-
Music Reviews: Mdou Moctar, Panda Bear, and Tate McRaeFeature “Tears of Injustice,” “Sinister Grift,” and “So Close to What”
-
What's at stake in the Mahmoud Khalil deportation fight?Talking Points Vague accusations and First Amendment concerns
