New discovery could make dentists much less terrifying

Nothing strikes fear into our hearts like the moment the dentist pauses, hovers over a particular tooth, and says, "You've got a cavity." But hopefully our long war of attrition with the bacteria that want to eat our teeth will soon come to an end, thanks to a recently discovered molecule that reportedly kills in 60 seconds the germ (Streptococcus mutans) that causes cavities. A Spanish-language website reports that researchers at Yale and the University of Santiago in Chile discovered Keep 32 (as in "keep your 32 teeth"), and are currently seeking funding to start human trials. They claim that Keep 32 could be put in toothpastes, mouthwashes and even candies as a way to prevent tooth decay. Sign us up.