New toothpaste stops periodontal pathogens
Contains a substance that selectively inhibits only those bacteria that cause periodontitis.
Researchers have identified a substance that selectively inhibits only those bacteria that cause periodontitis, thereby preserving the natural balance of the oral microbiome.
Pathogenic bacteria are killed by conventional oral care products such as alcohol-based mouthwashes and products containing the antiseptic chlorhexidine, but these also eliminate beneficial microorganisms.
When the oral microbiome re-establishes itself after treatment, pathogenic bacteria such as Porphyromonas gingivalis gain an early advantage because they proliferate particularly well in inflamed gum tissue. Beneficial bacteria grow more slowly, and the oral microbiome quickly shifts back from its natural balance into dysbiosis, allowing the disease to recur.
Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI have identified a substance, known as guanidinoethylbenzylamino imidazopyridine acetate, that selectively blocks harmful pathogens such as Porphyromonas gingivalis without affecting other bacteria.
“Rather than simply killing gingivitis pathogens, it inhibits their growth,” said said Stephan Schilling, Head of the Fraunhofer IZI branch Molecular Drug Biochemistry and Therapy Development. “They are unable to exert their toxic effects, so 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.”
The basis for this technology originated from an EU-funded project involving numerous international partners. The spin-off company Periotrap Pharmaceuticals GmbH was founded in Halle in 2018 with the aim of developing innovative oral care products.
PerioTrap created its microbiome-friendly toothpaste in close collaboration with Fraunhofer IZI and the Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS. “The product is designed to prevent periodontitis. Like conventional toothpaste, it also contains abrasives and fluoride to prevent tooth decay,” said Mirko Buchholz, one of the spin-off’s founders.