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New vaccination should provide efficient caries protection
Most people do not like going to the dentist. One reason for sure is the fear of treating tooth decay. Such a treatment is usually not very pleasant, in some cases it can even be extremely painful. Researchers from China are now working to develop a vaccine that will support human dental health and permanently prevent tooth decay.
Scientists at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIOV) at the Chinese Academy of Sciences are currently working on a vaccine that can maintain teeth health and even protect against tooth decay. The physicians published the current interim results of their study in the journal "Scientific Reports".
Many people around the world suffer from tooth decay. Failure to do so may result in loss of teeth. However, scientists are currently developing a vaccine that appears to protect against tooth decay. (Image: Igor Gromoff / fotolia.com) Physicians develop vaccine against the caries bacterium Streptococcus mutans
Toothache is a big burden for sufferers. If the problems on the teeth then require treatment by a dentist, this can again be an extremely painful and unpleasant experience. That's why it would be extremely helpful if a simple vaccine would protect against tooth decay and other problems on the teeth. The experts from China are currently trying to develop a vaccine against the caries bacterium Streptococcus mutans. For this, the researchers used a fusion of different proteins, which are active against the pathogen Streptococcus mutans. This bacterium is significantly responsible for the development of tooth decay, explain the scientists.
What is tooth decay??
By caries we mean a general destruction of the substance of the tooth, which cause the so-called degradation products of bacteria in the mouth. There are all sorts of circumstances that promote the development of tooth decay, such as the formation of dental plaque and caries-promoting bacteria. Also, sugars and certain carbohydrates in foods such as crisps, white bread and pasta can promote acid formation by caries bacteria.
Combining proteins can prevent tooth decay
The researchers had already tried in previous studies to develop effective protection against tooth decay. For this they had combined certain proteins of the Streptococcus mutans bacterium with proteins of the Escherichia coli bacterium. By this combination caries could actually be successfully prevented, but there were not insignificant side effects. For example, inflammation occurred in the mouth, explain the researchers.
How did the vaccine in mice affect mice??
In their latest research, the scientists have reworked the drug to make it just as effective, without causing the unpleasant side effects. The new vaccine was then tested on mice in a laboratory. The animals ingested the substance through their nasal cavity, the experts say. The results were clear and give hope for a successful caries vaccine. If the mice had not yet suffered from tooth decay, the development of caries in 64.2 percent of cases could be prevented. If the teeth of the animals were already suffering from tooth decay, could be found in 53.9 percent, a therapeutic effect, add the physicians.
Most people need multiple caries during their lifetime
Although the so-called dental health in the western world has improved massively in recent years, it nevertheless represents a problem that should not be underestimated. Approximately 60 to 90 percent of school age children have problems with their teeth, the experts speculate. But not only children are affected by tooth decay and other dental problems, adults also often suffer from toothache. Most adults have to visit a dentist several times throughout their lives to undergo treatment for tooth decay, the experts report.
Vaccine will never replace a thorough oral care
The frequency with which most people need to visit a dentist during their lifetime suggests that a caries vaccine would be a rousing drug. Many people around the world would benefit from such a vaccine, the researchers explain. Especially for people in developing and remote areas, the vaccine could prevent many problems because otherwise adequate dental care can not be guaranteed. This deficiency could be at least partially compensated by an anti-caries vaccine. But it will probably take some time before that happens. The newly developed vaccine will have to be tested in several clinical trials before, explain the scientists. And even if the vaccine is on the market, vaccination will never be able to replace a thorough and conscientious oral care. (As)