Dear Dr. Gott: As a DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery), I would like to commend you for the answer you gave the woman who sought your advice regarding the use of Tic Tacs for relief of her dry-mouth syndrome. I would also like to offer a comment or two.

The problem with Tic Tacs is the same as with Life Savers, lollipops, cough drops, mints, etc. Acid is used for the flavouring — malic acid for mints and citric acid for fruit flavours.

So when you suck on one of those objects, you are releasing acid directly against the teeth.

Sugar does not cause cavities; rather, it reacts with the bacteria present in the mouth and forms an acid that causes the cavities.

Placing one of those items next to the teeth releases the acid directly on the teeth – you cut out the "middleman" and go "direct."

I once had a patient who had a bad sinus problem, and he thought if he dissolved cough drops in his mouth on the side where his nose was clogged, it would help.

I don't know what good it did for the sinus problem, but he came in with a number of cavities in the teeth on that side of his mouth. I could relate a number of similar stories and situations.

Finally, I would like to thank you for using the proper terminology "physician or dentist." Common uninformed usage has made "doctors and dentists" the popular expression, but it is incorrect since dentists are doctors, too.

Dear Doctor: Thank you for the compliments. There are several over-the-counter dry-mouth remedies, including mouthwashes, toothpastes and oral gels.

Individuals who do not respond well to these measures should then be seen by a dental professional who can examine the mouth, determine what the underlying cause may be and what an appropriate course of action is needed.

Perhaps I am mistaken, but I believe that most cavities may be prevented simply by brushing and flossing the teeth at least twice a day or after every meal and/or sugary product; in today's fast-paced society, however, that may be hard to manage. Proper oral hygiene is just as important to overall health as is proper body hygiene.

Now to your physician/doctor/dentist compliment. Dentists are indeed doctors. The word doctor by definition is a person skilled or specialising in the art of healing who holds an advanced degree and is licensed to practice.

This includes individuals such as physicians, dentists and veterinarians.

The word physician is defined as a person skilled in healing arts; specifically, a person educated, clinically experienced and licensed to practice medicine (distinguished from surgery).

Today, doctor and physician are fairly interchangeable terms primarily used for family, general, internal or paediatric physicians.

Dentists are often not considered to be doctors. This is unfortunate since they are like any other specialist who chose to focus on only one part or function of the body, such as a cardiologist, gastroenterologist or one of the many specialities.

Dear Dr. Gott: A few years ago, I had a rash on my leg that my doctor told me was eczema. Rather than using the prescription cream he tried to give me, I used a mentholated chest rub. It worked right away. I had no more itch or rash, and it hasn't returned.

Dear reader: Thank you for sharing your experience with what I assume was a mild case of eczema and a simple home remedy. Mentholated chest rubs seem to be beneficial in treating many skin disorders from rashes to fungal infections.

Dr. Peter Gott is a retired physician and the author of the book "Dr. Gott's No Flour, No Sugar Diet," available at most chain and independent bookstores, and the recently published "Dr. Gott's No Flour, No Sugar Cookbook." Write directly to Dr. Gott c/o United Media, 200 Madison Ave., 4th fl., New York, NY 10016.