According to a group of researchers, conventional toothpaste is not enough to remove bacterial plaque from the mouth. Photo: Leonardo/IAG/Newsweek

Scientists seek new ways to combat periodontal disease

Oral diseases represent a significant health burden in many countries and affect people throughout their lives, causing pain and discomfort.

One of the most common is periodontal disease, which the World Health Organization (WHO) classifies as a major public health problem due to its high prevalence and its relationship with chronic systemic conditions. Such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and diabetes.

Although many toothpastes seek to alleviate its symptoms. Scientists point out that these solutions are insufficient, so what are the alternatives?

According to the WHO, periodontal disease affects the tissues that surround and support the teeth. Its symptoms include bleeding or inflammation of the gums (gingivitis), pain, and sometimes bad breath.

In the most severe cases, it can lead to tooth loss. It is estimated that more than 1 billion people worldwide suffer from this condition. Its main risk factors include poor oral hygiene, smoking, and nutritional problems.

According to an article in the scientific journal Nature, among adults aged 25 to 44, approximately 87 percent have bleeding gums and 97 percent have tartar buildup, both considered early signs of periodontal disease.

“Long before the gums begin to bleed, dental plaque, a type of biofilm, forms. This dense, structured matrix of bacteria and extracellular substances accumulates along the gum line. Adhering firmly to tooth surfaces, similar to the dirt around a kitchen drain.

This plaque causes mild inflammation in the gingival tissue, marking the earliest stage of periodontal disease, known as gingivitis,” explains Nature.

“STANDARD TOOTHPASTE FORMULAE HAVE HAD DIFFICULTIES”

Henglong Hu, R&D director of Haleon China, the Shanghai-based division of the global consumer health company, explains that more effective daily brushing allows for intervention before problems worsen. However, “standard toothpaste formulas have struggled to combat plaque. Many of them are designed to relieve symptoms like bleeding and inflammation, rather than disrupting the biofilm.”

Along those lines, Haleon researchers have focused on alternative toothpaste formulations. Such as sodium bicarbonate, a compound used in oral care since the 19th century.

“While it has long been a part of dental formulations. Its full potential is now being reexamined with modern experimental tools,” Hu says.

To study the effect of high concentrations of sodium bicarbonate on plaques of varying maturities. The scientists used a constant-depth film fermenter, a laboratory device that allowed them to grow biofilms under a continuous flow of artificial saliva.

In laboratory cultures of 7- and 14-day-old plaques, the bacterial population was reduced approximately 1,000-fold after a two-minute treatment with a sodium bicarbonate suspension.

“Bicarbonate doesn’t kill bacteria. Instead, it breaks down the extracellular polysaccharide scaffolding that binds mature plaque together. Making it easier to remove with brushing without altering the overall microbial balance,” he adds.

TOWARD THE FUTURE

But not everything is settled. Achieving a stable toothpaste formulation with such high concentrations of sodium bicarbonate posed significant technical challenges. For starters, the formulations were difficult to mix, and the researchers noticed unexplained color changes in the paste.

To date, Haleon has conducted more than 15 randomized controlled trials in North America, Europe, and Asia. With more than 5,000 participants with mild to moderate gingivitis.

Moreover with so many lines of research to explore, future work will use artificial intelligence to predict and optimize ingredient combinations based on the common oral microbiome in a specific region.

With information from Newsweek in Spanish

Radio Angulo
Latest posts by Radio Angulo (see all)