A revolutionary sugar-free lollipop has been developed to help fight tooth decay .
The orange-flavoured sweet contains a liquorice extract that kills the primary bacterium causing tooth decay .
Developed by microbiologist and dentistry professor, Wenyuan Shi, from the Los Angeles School of Dentistry in the US, the lollipop was chosen as the ideal sweet for the ingredient as sucking helps keep the liquorice extract in the mouth for longer.
Shi claims that just 15mg of liquorice powder per lollipop eliminates 99.9 per cent of Streptococcus mutans - the common bacterium that can release harmful cavity-causing acids through holes created in the top layer of the teeth .
Shi worked with scientists in China in order to find which traditional herb was the most effective. They eventually found that liquorice root was the most suitable as the extract does not kill the other bacteria in the mouth essential for good oral health .
He said: "In both Chinese in Western cultures people chew it for the taste. But it also has a lot of good health benefits it stimulates saliva flow, has anti-bacterial properties and keeps bacteria from adhering to your teeth ."
The lollipop is now available to buy online at c3-jian.com, priced at $10 (£5) for a pack of 20. Tips and advice on using the lollipop and its effectiveness are provided on the website .




