Cavity-fighting candy; treating yourself during spa week

LET THEM EAT CANDY: There may come a day when you give your kids a piece of candy instead of steering them away from the sweet stuff. The dental school at Stony Brook University tested a cavity-fighting candy on a group of 10- and 11-year-olds from Venezuela. The kids who ate the BasicMints candy had a whopping 60 percent fewer cavities than those given a placebo. Turns out the candy mimics saliva in neutralizing acids in the mouth that can erode tooth enamel. Coming soon to a dentist's office near you? Stay tuned.

FAMILY DIET: "The Fittest Family," a new reality TV show about losing weight, is looking for contestants. Thin, fit families with subtle personalities need not apply. Open casting call is on April 26. See www.drivekids tobefit.org for more info.

THE 'REAL' ALPHA MOM: Heather Armstrong, author of Dooce.com, told the Wall Street Journal last week that writing the country's top parenting blog has its downside. While she does get a huge income as a stay-at-home mom, Armstrong also gets hate mail and plenty of criticism. But maybe the best part of the article was that it listed more top mom-written blogs. Alas, L.A. Mama has not yet made the list. Here are some that have: designmom.com and scribbit.blogspot.com. See Technorati.com for more listings.

SQUEEZE ON STUDENTS: The global credit crunch is hitting the student loan sector. Just like home buyers, college students looking to borrow for next year can expect to pay higher interest and go through tougher credit history checks. The Senate Banking Committee began hearings this week on how to resolve the issue.

SPA WEEK: Although Mother's Day is a month away, you still deserve a treat. Spa Week continues through Sunday, with participating spas offering treatments for just $50. Spas include Allen Edwards in Studio City, Blue Medi Spa in Sherman Oaks and DermaPhil in Burbank. Go to www.spaweek.org for more information.

POSTPARTUM RISK FACTORS: Being young, poor, less-educated and single puts mothers at significant risk for postpartum depression, according to a study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Postpartum depression was more often reported by teenage moms, smokers, mothers with less than 12 years of education, Medicaid patients and women experiencing financial stress during pregnancy.

Barbara Correa