Inhibits Disease-Causing Bacteria and Restores Balance to the Oral Microbiome
This prebiotic agent can prevent and treat oral diseases by eliminating disease-causing bacteria, while simultaneously promoting the growth of healthy bacteria. An estimated 3.9 billion people worldwide suffer from oral diseases such as cavities, oral thrush, peri-mucositis and peri-implantitis. These diseases result from an imbalance in the bacterial communities living on the teeth characterized by overabundance of acid-producing, cavity-causing (cariogenic) bacteria at the expense of the bacteria that dislike acidic environments and produce bases. Conventional treatment of oral diseases proceeds by brute force removal of the entire bacterial community, but unfortunately this removes the healthy base-producing bacteria as well as the cavity-causing species they counter. Selectively removing disease-causing bacteria would be a better route to easing the burden of oral diseases.
Researchers at the University of Florida have developed N-Acetyl-Glucosamine (GlcNAc) as an easy-to-use prebiotic remedy for the treatment and prevention of diseases caused by oral bacteria. This treatment selectively targets cavity-causing bacteria by hindering their metabolism, while at the same time acting as a nutrient source for healthy base-producing bacteria. This restores the natural balance of the bacterial community without destroying it, yielding better oral health.
Application
Treatment and prevention of cavities and other oral diseases stemming from imbalanced oral bacteria communities
Advantages
- Suppresses growth and sugar fermentation of acid-producing bacteria while promoting base-producing bacteria, re-establishing a healthy oral pH
- Treats common oral diseases with GlcNAc, a naturally occurring and safe prebiotic
- Can be administered in both hydrogel and mouthwash formulations, allowing for easy at-home treatment
Technology
Common preventable diseases such as cavities and oral thrush stem from an imbalance in the microbes living on the teeth and other oral surfaces in a community known as a biofilm or plaque. This microbiome balances its pH by countering acid-producing bacteria, also called cariogenic bacteria, with base-producing bacteria, also called commensals. However, excessive proliferation of cariogenic bacteria shifts the composition and sugar metabolism of the biofilm, forming an acidic plaque, which eventually causes cavities. Similarly, loss of microbial balance is also the underlying cause of periodontitis and several other oral diseases that are of global public health importance.
Bacteria readily metabolize the prebiotic carbohydrate N-Acetyl-Glucosamine (GlcNAc). During metabolism, GlcNAc induces physiological reprogramming in plaque-producing bacteria that slows acid production, but stimulates commensal bacteria to produce antimicrobial and alkalizing compounds such as hydrogen peroxide H2O2 and ammonia NH3, respectively. These compounds act against the proliferation of cariogenic bacteria and other potential pathogens, providing an additional push toward rebalancing the biofilm.
GlcNAc delivery is versatile enough for both professional and at-home use. For example, administration of GlcNAc in the form of mouthwash or toothpaste can be carried out at home by the patient. Alternatively, a hydrogel formulation can be used less frequently and would be appropriate for patients who are unable to care for themselves.
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