If you have bad breath or tooth decay, you’ve probably tried all the usual stuff.
You’ve tried brushing. You’ve tried flossing. Maybe you’ve tried avoiding certain foods. And maybe you’ve even tried probiotics.
But here are two things you may not have tried. The first thing is digestive enzymes that includes betaine hydrochloride (HCl). Why digestive enzymes? Because poorly digested food can cause gases that make their way back up to your mouth, causing bad breath.
And poor digestion also results in poor vitamin and mineral absorption, which affects the teeth and gums.
The second thing you might not have tried is a candy that fights bad breath, tooth decay, and even many infections. That’s right, a candy. Let me tell you about it….
As you may know, dentists tell their patients to avoid candy. Dentists are especially wary of hard candy. If you suck on hard candy, you get a mouthful of sugar. And if you bite it, it can break a tooth.
So you might think that telling people to suck on a hard candy would upset dentists. But believe it or not, dentists are starting to recommend this candy, too.
The reason is because this candy is made from licorice root. But if you hate the taste of licorice, don’t worry. This candy doesn’t taste like those licorice candies you’ve tried in the past. More on that in a minute. But first, here’s why this works.
Why Your Mouth Loves Licorice Root
Licorice has a long history of use in traditional medicine. One of those uses was for bad breath and tooth decay. So modern researchers wanted to know if it really works.
The researchers found that licorice root contains several antibacterial chemicals. And those chemicals work three different ways.
First, they kill strep bacteria, which causes tooth decay. Second, they kill bacteria that can cause gum disease. And, third, they kill another bacteria that causes periodontitis (severe gum disease that can affect the bone under the gums).
But that’s not all. A second team of researchers found that another compound in licorice prevents dental plaque. Most people don’t know this, but dental plaque is actually made by bacteria in your mouth. The bacteria create a coating around themselves to protect themselves from getting killed. That coating is plaque.
Well, licorice contains an enzyme that dissolves the plaque before it can even develop!
But there’s a problem. Once you put licorice into your mouth, saliva quickly dilutes it. And then you swallow it. So the extract doesn’t have time to work on the bacteria.
That’s Where the Hard Candy Comes In….
Researchers at the University of Michigan developed a licorice lollipop. Since you suck on a lollipop for a long time, the beneficial compounds stay in your mouth longer. And they’re able to fight the bacteria.
The researchers then tested the lollipop to make sure it really works. They gave a group of children sugar-free lollipops with licorice root extract. The researchers had the children suck on two lollipops a day for three weeks. Here’s what they found:
The level of strep bacteria in their saliva was greatly decreased. But the news gets even better.
For 22 days after they sucked the last lollipop, the bacterial population stayed at a decreased level. So the lollipops’ effect lasted for more than 3 weeks!
And these lollipops are not just for children. In another study, researchers gave the lollipops to adults. The adults sucked on 2 lollipops a day for 10 days. And the effect was the same. The researchers found a big decrease in strep bacteria.
Other researchers have found that licorice root extract reduces the inflammation involved in severe gum disease. And other studies discovered that the extracts can even inhibit the bone loss that occurs in periodontitis.
If that weren’t enough, there’s even growing research that licorice root is an effective antiviral. Scientists from China found that several compounds in licorice root can inhibit all kinds of viruses, including influenza, herpes, respiratory infections, and more.
Where to Find Licorice Lollipops
You can find licorice lollipops on Amazon.com and other places on the internet. The brand I like is Loloz. The berry taste is mild and sweet, but not too sweet. And, as I mentioned earlier, it doesn’t have that yucky licorice taste.
These lollipops aren’t cheap. But they do have the actual licorice extract in them. Cheaper candies often contain licorice flavoring and won’t have the same effect as the extract lollipops. So make sure the brand you buy has actual licorice extract in it.
Make sure you follow the directions in the package (two lollipops a day). But don’t exceed that dosage. More is not better with licorice, as it can have negative effects if you get too much. But they’re very safe and effective when you get the right amount.
One of the reviews on Amazon said: “My young son had bad breath, even with brushing, these are the only thing that worked. I also tried probiotics, but they did not help like these suckers did….”
So give these lollipops a try and let me know how they work for you.
https://remedygrove.com/remedies/Licorice-Root-For-Tooth-Decay-and-Gum-Disease-Benefits-and-Dangers
https://plantmedicines.org/licorice-mers-sars/