Licking Cavities with Herbal Lollipops

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Licking Cavities with Herbal Lollipops
February 11, 2008
Kristina Riggle
mLive.com

Sugar-free lollipops won't hurt your teeth, but researchers in California and a local couple teamed up to go one better: a lollipop that fights decay-causing bacteria.

Dr. John's Candies, a Grand Rapids company owned and operated by Dr. John Bruinsma, a dentist, and his wife, hygienist Debra Bruinsma, is marketing "Dr. John's Herbal Lollipop."

They created the candy several years ago with C-3 Jian Inc., California a company that develops products targeting harmful bacteria.

Microbiologist Wenyuan Shi, of the University of California-Los Angeles, is the scientific adviser for C-3 Jian.

The company tested 400 herbs against organisms that cause cavities and found Chinese licorice root extract worked the best.

In June 2002, C-3 Jian contacted Dr. John's Candies. Since 1995, the couple has been manufacturing and selling sugar-free candies. C-3 Jian wanted the Bruinsmas to get their herbal cavity-fighter into sugar-free candy.

The Bruinsmas worked with their manufacturer in southern Michigan and the California researchers for several years to nail down a lollipop that kept herbal ingredient active and useful -- and still tasted good.

The result is an orange-flavored treat that tastes as good as any other sugar-free candy.

In December 2005, a research trial in Alaska with 2,000 pounds of the candy showed it significantly reduced the bacteria that cause decay, according to Dr. Max Anderson, president and CEO of C-3 Jian.

Since summer 2006, the candy had been manufactured by Dr. John's Candies, but only available through C-3 Jian for sale to dentists.

Now, Dr. John's Candies has taken over distribution. The candy now can be ordered by anyone through its Web site.

Grand Rapids is famous in the dentistry world as the first city to fluoridate its water supply, John Bruinsma noted, and Grand Rapids could make dental history again.

The candy is available in 20 packs -- the recommended dosage is two lollipops a day for 10 days -- or in 2.5 pound bags.

The herb has been given a GRAS rating -- for "Generally Regarded As Safe" -- by the Food and Drug Administration.

The anti-bacterial benefits last 12 to 27 weeks, depending on the dental hygiene and eating habits of the patient, Debra Bruinsma said.

The researchers and Dr. John's Candies also crafted a reduced-acid lollipop with the herb, intended for use in geriatric patients or others suffering from dry mouth, who find relief by sucking on candy.

This version is being studied in convalescent homes by University of Michigan researchers.

Tom Kochheiser, spokesman for Michigan Dental Association, said the licorice root is promising, but more research needs to be done.

"One of the key points is that dentistry has really prided itself over the years on making decisions on new treatments and new products based upon sound science and research," he said. But Kochheiser also said the lollipops could be a helpful tool in the future.