Science Buddies: Cinnamon Gum and Mouth Microbes

A scientific study has shown that chewing Big Red Gum reduces mouth microbes. Cinnamon oil in gum is a natural defense against mouth bacteria that cause tooth decay and bad breath. Conduct an experiment to compare products with cinnamon essence in gum, candy, toothpaste, and mouthwash to see if they can decrease mouth germs and do a before and after swab of the mouth with a Q-tip. Afterwards, you can record which treatments work the best, and whether you can find another useful ingredient in other natural oils or essences such as peppermint or spearmint.