The Secret To Preventing Tooth Decay May Already Be In Your Mouth
ScienceAlert • • health
Key Points:
- A clinical study from Aarhus University found that increasing levels of the amino acid arginine in saliva can transform harmful bacterial biofilms on teeth into protective ones, reducing tooth decay.
- Arginine treatment significantly raised the pH of bacterial biofilms after sugar exposure, indicating lower acidity and less enamel-damaging acid production.
- The study showed arginine reduced acid-producing Streptococcus bacteria while increasing bacteria that metabolize arginine, altering the biofilm's sugar composition to be less harmful.
- Conducted in real-world conditions using dentures with biofilm panels, the study revealed individual variability in response to arginine treatment, with some participants showing no effect.
- Arginine is a promising, safe candidate for incorporation into
