Licorice for Healthy Teeth?

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Could licorice root keep cavities away? New research says maybe so.

Streptococcus mutans is a bacterium that is a major cause of dental cavities. In the study, authors write, "There is an urgent need for new antimicrobial compounds that can inhibit S. mutans effectively." Researchers from Oragencis explain most human tooth decay is caused by S. mutans, which sits on the surface of the tooth and converts sugar to lactic acid. That lactic acid is excreted by the bacteria and causes tooth decay by dissolving the mineral that comprises enamel and dentin.

Now, researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles may have found a promising candidate to stop S. mutans from doing damage. In test tube studies, they have discovered an extract from a plant root used to make licorice has at least two compounds that inhibit S. mutans.

The UCLA researchers say more studies are needed before the plant root is proven to fight cavities in humans, but they're hopeful. If future studies show efficacy, the licorice compounds could be added to mouthwash or toothpaste in the future.

Authors of the study write: "[Chinese licorice] is one of the most frequently used traditional medicines in mainland China and some other countries as well. Over the past decades, many research groups have investigated its chemical constituents and biological activities." They report compounds from licorice root have been shown to help inflammation, viruses, ulcers and even cancer. It could fight cavities, they explain, by inhibiting bacterial growth.

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SOURCE: To be published in the Journal of Natural Products, Feb. 24, 2006