October 28, 2005 — Candy may soon be good for your teeth.

Long Island scientists have developed an enzyme that can be added to snacks and turn into a more powerful cavity fighter than fluoride.

“[It attacks] all stages of the tooth-decay process at the same time,” said Dr. Israel Kleinberg of the Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine.

In tests of 726 patients, the technology proved “significantly more effective” than fluoride in a two-year toothpaste study.

CaviStat contains arginine, an amino acid present in saliva, that copies saliva’s protective benefits.

A company called Ortek plans to market BasicMints, the first candy with CaviStat, next year.

The study is published in The Journal of Clinical Dentistry.

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