The human mouth hosts a complex community of more than 700 bacterial species, of which only a small fraction are responsible for periodontitis. Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease of the supporting structures of teeth. The harmful bacteria cause gingivitis (gingival inflammation) progresses to periodontitis.
Scientists at the University of California Irvine’s Beckman Laser Institute & Medical Clinic have conducted a study to show that brushing with a novel toothpaste improves symptoms in patients with periodontitis.
It was a six month long double blind study, where the novel dental gel was tested against the over the counter anti-gingivitis toothpaste, to investigate their effects on gum health in patients with early to moderate periodontitis. The study examined the indicators like periodontal pocket depths, gingival inflammation, and gingival bleeding.
The results showed that participants using the new dental gel experienced clinically significant improvements in their gingival health. More than 80 percent of diseased sites showed reduced pocket depth, a key indicator of healing. The participants also had 2.5 times less gum inflammation and nearly twice as little gum bleeding compared with those using the conventional toothpaste.
The effectiveness of the formulation is linked to its ability to interfere with dental plaque formation at the molecular level. The toothpaste discourages plaque from attaching to the tooth surface and prevents small plaque clusters from combining into larger deposits. This process helps reduce harmful bacteria and bacterial byproducts that contribute to chronic gingivitis.
Another research conducted at Halle branch of the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI have identified a compound that specifically targets pathogens like Porphyromonas gingivalis without disturbing the broader microbial community. p gingivalis is the key pathogen for causing periodontitis.
This compound called guanidinoethylbenzylamino imidazopyridine acetate inhibits the growth of the pathogens rather than killing them, hence they are unable to exert their toxic effects. Beneficial bacteria can occupy niches that would otherwise be inaccessible to them. In this way the substance works in harmony with healthy bacteria to gently rebuild and stabilise the microbial balance in the mouth
These studies suggest that toothpastes may be able to improve the gingival health by targeting plaque formation and harmful bacteria precisely. The patient will also be to manage their conditions better.
Can the toothpaste we use every day become one of the most important tools in preventing chronic periodontal disease?
MBH/PS