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It may go against everything we learned as children, but researchers are convinced a sweet treat three times a day can do wonders to prevent tooth decay in children.

According to investigators from the University of Washington, kids who snacked on four gummy bears containing the sugar substitute xylitol three times during each school day had significantly lower levels of a bacteria linked to cavities.

The authors explain xylitol is a naturally occurring sugar alcohol known to reduce harmful levels of the bacteria mutans streptococci (MS) -- a key player in cavities. The product is available in chewing gums, but most young kids aren't allowed to chew gum while in school. So they gave the kids gummy bears instead. Six weeks later, levels of MS had dropped considerably.

"For xylitol to be successfully used in oral health promotion programs amongst primary-school children, an effective means of delivering xylitol must be identified," study author Kiet A. Ly was quoted as saying. "Gummy bears would seem to be more ideal than chewing gum."

He and his fellow investigators are continuing their research in an elementary school in East Cleveland, Ohio.

SOURCE: BMC Oral Health, published online July 24, 2008

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