|
|
Article: Science
- Article from:
- The Independent (London, England)
- Article date:
- May 23, 1994
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 1994 The Independent - London. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
|
This month the British Dental Association launched the Happy
Tooth logo for sugar-free sweets and other foods, in an effort to
combat increasing tooth decay among children. Such confectionery is
possible because sugar is not essential to sweetness. This taste
sensation is achieved merely by triggering the right receptors on
the tongue, and several molecules can do this.
Xylitol, which can be extracted from birch wood, corn cobs or
peanut shells, is as sweet as sugar and is now being used to make
chewing-gum, mints and candy. Although it does not cause dental
caries, it is still rich in calories. Other sweet-tasting
alternatives produce neither cavities nor calories. These are the
so-called ...