Saliva protects teeth in two ways: it fosters an alkaline environment that
neutralises the acids that cause decay, and it contains minerals that restore
lost enamel. Now scientists at the State University of New York at Stony Brook,
Long Island, have developed a compound of amino acids and calcium that dental
researcher Israel Kleinberg claims mimics saliva’s cavity-fighting
capabilities.
The idea is to use the compound, dubbed Cavistat, as a supplement in
toothpaste—and maybe even sweets and chewing gum.
