Want long-lasting cavity protection? A quick squirt of genetically engineered bacteria could do the trick, and might even safeguard your teeth for life.
Streptococcus mutans, a bacterium that inhabits the human mouth, causes cavities by converting sugar into enamel-corroding lactic acid. Dr. Jeffrey D. Hillman of the University of Florida College of Dentistry in Gainesville has developed a genetically modified strain of the bug that doesn’t make lactic acid, but is able to shoulder out competing bacteria.
The new bacterium, dubbed BCS3-L1, could theoretically prevent cavities by colonizing the mouth and getting rid of its cavity-causing cousin. Although the experimental treatment has only been tried in animals, clinical trials for cavity prevention could start as early as the beginning of next year.
Hillman described his research on BCS3-L1 Saturday at the American Academy for the Advancement of Science’s annual meeting in Boston. He has been working on developing bacterial replacement therapy for cavity prevention for 25 years.
In rats, Hillman noted, mouth colonization with BCS3-L1 provided lifetime prevention. He is “hopeful” that the same could be true for humans, he told Reuters Health in an interview. “At worst, the treatment could be repeated as often as needed without any problems, but it certainly shouldn’t be necessary more than every couple of years.”
Hillman presented his data on BCS3-L1 to the Food and Drug Administration last year. “In general they quite like the idea,” he said. After further investigations to address the FDA’s safety concerns are complete, Hillman said, he plans to go back to the regulatory body this fall. Trials of the bacteria in humans could begin early next year.
In the dentist’s office, he said, the bacteria would probably be applied after tooth cleaning. “The dentist would simply squirt a suspension of our bacteria, our modified bacteria, onto your tooth surfaces for about 5 minutes, then more than likely the dentist would pat you on the head and tell you to go home and eat sugar.”
Sugar, he explained, helps the genetically modified bug stick to tooth surfaces.
The End of Tooth Decay as We
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