Dentists could soon be telling their patients to eat more candy.

Many brands of chewing gum already contain Xylitol, an artificial sweetener. Now researchers want to add natural cavity-fighting compounds that are already found in foods we eat.

Researchers said that Lactobacillus, a friendly bacterium found in yogurt, could reduce the amount of cavity-causing bacteria when added to gum.

Studies also find that candy infused with cavistat, a compound that works better than fluoride, can be a good thing to eat if there is no toothbrush handy.

There are also foods you can eat that are good for teeth, including cheese, yogurt, popcorn, fruits and vegetables.