Tooth decay is a costly disease that can cause pain and disability. There has been great interest in traditional herbs as to whether they can be used to treat the cause of cavities and gum disease. More than 2000 Chinese and East Indian herbs have been examined for their effect on the bacteria that cause dental diseases, and the news for this newer form of dental care appears hopeful.

Most bacteria in the human mouth are harmless, but there is one in particular which is responsible for causing plaque to build up on teeth and gums. This plaque bacteria is Streptococcus mutans, and is the major cause of dental decay and gum disease.. It lives in the mouth, and feeds off of the sugars we eat, producing acids as a waste product which attack the teeth and gums Given that dental diseases are the result of  these bad bacteria, using herbs to reduce their numbers in the mouth should help control or prevent tooth decay and gum disease. 

All creatures, including bacteria, have natural enemies and after testing a large number of herbs it has been found that licorice root, extracted in a very specific way, is a natural enemy of plaque bacteria. 

This extract has been combined with a sugar-free candy and  a sugar-free lollipop has been developed that affects the plaque bacteria. A large number of studies have been conducted by best dentists using this 3,000 year-old remedy including testing for safety, stability and to see how effective this licorice extract lollipop is in reducing cavity-causing bacteria in humans. The final product is a good tasting, commercially available lollipop that can be seen at www.c3-jian.com. The lollipop was reviewed on ABC’s Good Morning America and that video can be seen via a link on the website.

Treating dental disease and decay is addressing the problem after it has already become a health issue. Can natural herbs be used to treat one of the causes of dental disease? The answer is yes, these lollipops, when used as suggested and in combination with regular dental visits are a good start toward being cavity free.

Dr. Max Anderson received his dental degree from the University of Nebraska (1976), his Master of Science in Restorative Dentistry from The University of Michigan (1983) and his Master of Education from George Washington University (1988). He served as the Vice President and Dental Director of Washington Dental Service (WDS) a Delta Dental Plan, in Seattle, Washington from 1994 through 2004.

Dr Max Anderson is the President & CEO of C3 Jian, Inc. a California based biotechnology company developing targeted antimicrobial drugs, diagnostics and mineralization modulation molecules www.c3-jian.com