A common amino acid could solve dental issues for many people.
Arginine, which is found in foods, could enable many people to avoid cavities and gum disease, according to researchers at the University of Michigan and Newcastle University.
The research team determined that L-arginine prevented the formation of plaque because bacteria like to aggregate on biofilms and dental plaque would be considered a biofilm. Dental biofilms are the main reason people develop cavities, gingivitis and periodontal disease. Studies show that about 24 percent of adults in the United States have untreated caries and roughly 39 percent have moderate to severe periodontitis. For people older than 65, this number is about 64 percent.
Many previous methods for treating dental plaque involve antimicrobial agents. The problem is these agents could adversely impact sense of taste or stain teeth.
L-arginine could be used in lieu of chlorhexidine or other antimicrobial agents.
The reasoning behind L-arginine causing the disintegration of the biofilms is unknown, so more research is necessary. Arginine can alter the way the cells stick together and can cause bacteria within biofilms to change how they behave, according to the researchers.
The research team conducted their studies on a 2013 model that simulates the oral cavity. The researchers grew various bacterial species found in dental plaque by using human saliva. This model worked well because of the wide array of bacteria involved in the study.
The information appears in the current issue of PLOS ONE.
