Licorice candy is a hit or miss because of its sweet and distinctive flavor. If you want to keep your gums and teeth healthy, you’re going to need licorice root, the herb, not the licorice candy you buy in stores.

What is licorice?

Licorice comes from the root of Glycyrrhiza glabra. The sweet-tasting root of this plant offers many health benefits, one of which is improving your oral health. Licorice root contains beneficial compounds with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.

Licorice root is at least 50 times sweeter than sugar. It is often used in traditional Chinese medicine to address different health conditions like coughs and for getting rid of phlegm.

Store-bought licorice contains extracts from the root of the plant. Licorice extract is also used to flavor candies, gums and toothpaste.

According to studies, licorice contains various complex compounds with therapeutic properties. Findings have revealed that licorice contains over 20 chemicals (triterpenoids), along with 300 flavonoids (antioxidants) with antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor and antiviral properties.

According to a study published in the journal Nutrition Research and Practice, the phenyl flavonoids in licorice root have a protective effect against chronic diseases. Licorice extracts can also help treat cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal problems, malaria and skin diseases.

Licorice is available in several forms, such as:

• Licorice powder, which can be turned made into a paste and applied to the skin or taken as a health supplement.
• Dried licorice root, which is used to make healing licorice tea.
• Deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL), which refers to processed licorice that is safer for long-term consumption. DGL is licorice that contains a smaller amount of glycyrrhizin, a compound that may interact with medical conditions or medications.

Glycyrrhizin is a chemical that gives licorice its sweet flavor. But while glycyrrhizin offers certain benefits, consuming a lot of licorice with glycyrrhizin may have adverse effects.

The long-term use of licorice with glycyrrhizin may prevent salt from being excreted from your body. This can cause hypertension, low potassium levels and swelling. When buying licorice, ask for DGL to avoid these side effects.

DGL for better oral health

According to a study published in the journal Anaerobe, DGL extract can kill off bacteria that cause plaque buildup and gum disease.

Your mouth contains different types of bacteria and while some of them can be helpful in limited quantities, these bacteria can also cause tooth decay and gum disease.

Bacteria called Streptococcus mutans feed on sugar and they metabolize the sugars in your mouth to produce malic acid. This waste product causes the plaque that builds up on your teeth, resulting in cavities, gum disease, and tooth decay.

Bacteria produce a type of biofilm to protect themselves. You need to remove this protective layer to effectively eliminate the bacteria in your mouth.

This is where licorice comes in. The sweet root contains licoricidin and licorisoflavan, two active ingredients that help eliminate the enzyme that allows bacteria to create a biofilm.

Remember, you need licorice root (not licorice candy) if you want to keep your teeth strong and healthy. You can purchase fresh licorice root at health food stores.

To use licorice, clean the root properly then chew on one end until the root fibers come loose and resemble the bristles on your toothbrush.

Another option is to drink soothing licorice tea.

Considerations when using licorice

Researchers from the European Union recommend limiting the consumption of licorice with glycyrrhizin to 60 to 70 grams per day. This dose contains about 100 mg of glycyrrhizin.

Purchase DGL is you want to use licorice regularly as a health supplement for better oral health.

Sources:

HealthyAnd NaturalWorld.com

Healthline.com