The California Dental Hygienists' Association (CDHA) recently issued a public warning to parents about the Halloween dangers of sour candies, many of which apparently as acidic as battery acid. The acid content of these candies can damage teeth even more than the sugar of traditional candies.

They also advise minimizing one's risk by rinsing with water after consuming sour candies. However, it's important not to brush your teeth immediately! The acid softens tooth enamel, and brushing soft enamel is likely to do more harm than good.

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Led by microbiologist Wenyuan Shi, a team at the UCLA School of Dentistry has developed a lollipop that fights tooth decay. Their sugar-free treats include an ingredient (naturally found in licorice) that kills Streptococcus mutans, the bacterium most responsible for causing tooth decay.

The technology has already been licensed to a US manufacturer. The orange lollipops, sold as Dr. John’s Herbal Candy, are now available for purchase.

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