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I have recently read in a book (Bacteria, A Very Short Introduction by Sebastian G. B. Amyes) that honey kills bacteria that cause cavities in the mouth. And that sugar does the opposite, and actually helps the bacteria grow and breed, causing tooth decay.
Quote from the book (page 54):
"Examination of skulls from people who had lived up to the 16th century shows a relatively low incidence of damage due to tooth decay. Then, the major sweetener had been honey, which contains antibiotic properties that would prevent its use as a nutrition source for oral bacteria. The colonization of the West Indies and the importation of sugar (sucrose), particularly as it became available as an everyday commodity, soon led to widespread and serious tooth decay. Sucrose provides a nutrition source for the bacteria, which they ferment. The result of this fermentation, which is similar to what we have seen in the production of yogurt, is the production of acid. It is this acid that destroys the enamel of the tooth and causes cavities."
Quote from the book (page 54):
"Examination of skulls from people who had lived up to the 16th century shows a relatively low incidence of damage due to tooth decay. Then, the major sweetener had been honey, which contains antibiotic properties that would prevent its use as a nutrition source for oral bacteria. The colonization of the West Indies and the importation of sugar (sucrose), particularly as it became available as an everyday commodity, soon led to widespread and serious tooth decay. Sucrose provides a nutrition source for the bacteria, which they ferment. The result of this fermentation, which is similar to what we have seen in the production of yogurt, is the production of acid. It is this acid that destroys the enamel of the tooth and causes cavities."