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Tuesday, September 19, 2006

CHEW in STYLE


A chewing gum containing good bacteria that can destroy the bad bacteria causing tooth decay could be in the shops soon.

A new strain of lactobacillus called L. anti-caries, which binds to Strepptococcus mutans, the bacteria responsible for tooth decay.

S. mutans sticks to the surface of teeth, where it produces an aggressive acid that breaks down the enamel. The friendly bugs will make the S. mutans clump together, preventing them from becoming attached to the tooth surface.

Tests reveal that the chewing gum can reduce the amount of bacteria in the mouth 50 times!