Anti-germ lollipop fights cavities

Americans spent an estimated $85 billion on oral health care last year. Still, 79 percent of children will have a cavity by age 17. Dr. Wenyuan Shi, a medical microbiologist at UCLA, believes Americans are taking the wrong approach to fighting tooth decay, reports ABC News. Combining ancient Eastern medicine and modern technology, Shi created a candy solution. Shi took 2,000 herbs and conducted more than 50,000 experiments over 10 years, looking for a natural enemy to cavity-causing bacteria. He found that licorice root contains an anti-cavity compound. First, it must be soaked to draw out its potency. Then when the liquid evaporates, what's left is a cavity-blasting powder component. Shi says the safe and natural powder, when put into lollipops, could revolutionize dental health around the world. He hopes they will help underprivileged kids, the elderly and those in developing nations to protect their teeth. His proposed regimen would be two lollipops a day for 10 days, four times a year. Shi chose a lollipop because of its universal appeal. Because they're all natural, they also don't need FDA approval. "This is really an anti-germ lollipop. … It can prevent and protect you from tooth decay," Shi says. "We really recognize the power of those Asian wisdoms." The lollipops are already selling under the brand name Dr. John's. A package of 20 lollipops is $10. Dr. John’s lollipops