From the Journal of Natural Products

Glycyrrhiza uralensis, widely recognized as Chinese licorice, has been used in traditional medicine and naturopathy for thousands of years. In this study, several compounds isolated from G. uralensis were tested against Streptococcus mutans, a bacteria largely responsible for tooth decay. The study found that Glycyrrhizol A showed antibacterial properties against S. mutans, while Glycyrrhizol B and isoflavanoid gancaonin G also showed moderate antibacterial results.

This population is particularly vulnerable to dental caries due to physical and mental limitations. Eight senior citizens were given at least one lollipop with licorice root extract per day for 21 days. Saliva samples were taken periodically throughout the study. In the end, the participants who consumed the lollipops more consistently had lower levels of Streptococcus mutans than the participants who occasionally missed a day. Those who consistently consumed two per day had even lower levels of S. 
mutans bacteria.

From the International Journal of Oral Science

In this study, the specific herbal extracts (Cavibloc) were used to develop a sugar-free lollipop that effectively kills cariogenic bacteria like Streptococcus mutans. Further studies showed that these sugar-free lollipops are safe and their antimicrobial activity is stable. Two pilot human studies indicate that a brief application of these lollipops (twice a day for ten days) led to a marked reduction of cariogenic bacteria in oral cavity among most human subjects tested.

The objective of this study was to determine how effective the six‐month regimen of herbal lollipops is at controlling the Streptococcus Mutans levels, Lactobacilli levels, and the caries process in the study group. This study showed evidence that the herbal lollipops decrease bacterial levels in the oral cavity. A decrease in bacteria, aids in decreasing the caries process, which most children using a beta2-°©-adrenergic agonist would benefit from.

Sjögren's Syndrome is an auto immune disease, marked by an occurrence of dry mouth and lack of saliva production. Patients with Sjögren's Syndrome were recruited, and instructed to consume two lollipops a day. Some contained xylitol, some contained licorice root extract, and some contained an artificial sweetener. The study has so far found that patients who used the lollipops increased saliva production even after the 10-day course, and some patients showed a lowered bacterial count.