Is there such a product as a cookie or candy that you can eat at
bedtime, and which accomplishes brushing and/or flossing and/or some
kind of enamel protection, and which can be swallowed?

Hi scotttygett-ga,

The suggestion by redfoxjumps-ga of a carrot is a good one, but better
still to follow this by eating a piece of cheese:

"Cheeses such as Cheddar, Swiss, blue, Monterey Jack, Brie, Gouda,
mozzarella, and Roquefort, as well as process American cheese, exhibit
a potential protective effect against tooth decay. The chemical or
physical characteristics of cheese responsible for its protective
action against tooth decay are not completely understood. However,
cheese has a number of properties that may help reduce risk of tooth
decay.

"Cheese's beneficial effect may be explained in part by its texture,
which increases saliva flow. This in turn reduces the increase in
cavity-causing acids by plaque bacteria and increases the clearance of
sugars from the oral cavity. Components of cheese such as protein,
calcium, and phosphorus may prevent acid demineralization and enhance
remineralization of tooth enamel. The protective effect of cheese
against dental caries may also be explained by an antibacterial effect
of components in cheese (e.g., fatty acids)."

The above quote is from the National Dairy Council
http://www.nationaldairycouncil.org/NationalDairyCouncil/Nutrition/Products/cheesePage6.htm
You may also be interested in their page "Health Benefits of Cheese":
http://www.nationaldairycouncil.org/NationalDairyCouncil/Health/Digest/dcd73-5Page4.htm

I would understand if you suspected that the National Dairy Council
might have a pro-cheese attitude, and on the above page they even
suggest chocolate milk as a tooth-protective snack. So here's a PubMed
search that shows numerous studies which confirm that, not only does
cheese not cause cavities, but also it helps to prevent cavities being
caused by other foods:

"Entrez PubMed - search for 'cheese dental'"
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Search&db=PubMed&term=cheese+dental&tool=QuerySuggestion
(search within the page for "cheese" then click on the article titles
to see the article abstracts).

The Alberta Dental Hygienists' Association web page states:

"Cheese...
 * helps remineralize or rebuild teeth when calcium
   and phosphorus are released during chewing.
 * slows down the activity level of dental bacteria
   and acts as a barrier between sugary foods when
   it coats teeth.
 * neutralizes acids produced by bacteria in the mouth
   with the help of the protein casein, providing a buffer
   against decay causing acids. 
Some cheeses are more effective than others, and all but cream cheese
play a role in preventing dental decay. This is because cheeses
contain tooth building minerals - calcium and phosphorus. Eating
cheese can benefit your dental health."

Alberta Dental Hygienists' Association
http://www.askadentalhygienist.com/ohl/faq_3.asp

Finally, here's a PubMed article that reviews the current research
literature about cheese and dental health, and reinforces the above
findings:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=0001877906&dopt=Abstract

So, do enjoy your carrot-and-cheese bedtime snack! By the way, a
cheese snack is a great way to finish a meal, for the same reasons.

Regards,
eiffel-ga


Google search strategy:

cheese dental
://www.google.com/search?q=cheese+dental&hl=en

I've never heard of that.

I was wondering if there were a commercial product, but cheese lore is
a pleasant discovery. I'd noticed one of Tom's toothpastes includes
carrot in the ingredients.

I recommend that you have all your teeth removed and that you get
fitted up with a set of dentures.

You can remove the dentures before going to bed and then pop them into
a glass of cleansing solution.

And, in the morning, you just pop the dentures back into your mouth,
already cleansed.

However, you must be careful when you laugh or you might find your
dentures eating the dog's dinner. Or worse.

Good Luck with your new Dentures!

a carrot?

When I was a child our water was supplied from a well, so it wasn't
fluoridated.  Our dentist prescribed daily fluoride tablets.  They had
to be completely chewed up before I was allowed to swallow.  Nasty
taste, unpleasant texture.  They wouldn't accomplish what brushing and
flossing would (removal of food bits and prevention of tartar
buildup), but I imagine they would provide some protection for your
tooth enamel.

Cheese at bedtime has been known to cause baddreams or nightmares