Amino Acids that Stop Dental Plaque?
New Studies Regarding Amino Acids
Some may ask: what are amino acids? They are organic compounds that merge together to form proteins, and these proteins are considered the building blocks of life as we know it. Researchers at the University of Michigan as well as at Newcastle University in England are performing new studies that are revealing evidence that the amino acid arginine has a role with protecting our teeth.
Arginine has many roles in the body---it helps assist in wound healing and also helps remove excess ammonia from our bodies. In addition, arginine stimulates immune function and promotes the secretion of several hormones including glucagon, insulin, and growth hormones. The relation to teeth, however, is new. Experiments were conducted in a lab, and it was deduced that arginine stopped the formation of plaque on teeth. The team of university researchers published these findings in May in the journal PLOS ONE.
Arginine can be found in red meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, and is being used in many dental products for tooth sensitivity, but its effects on plaque breakdown have been rather unknown until now, the study reports. “This is important as bacteria like to aggregate on surfaces to form biofilms,” said Alexander Rickard, an assistant professor of epidemiology at the U-M School of Public Health.
“Dental plaque is a biofilm,” Rickards continued. “Dental plaque films contribute to the billions of dollars of dental treatment and office visits every year in the United States.” A biofilm is a group of microorganisms, and the cells of this organism stick to each other on a surface of an object, and this leads to dental plaque on teeth. The researchers want to look more into the use of arginine and conduct more tests. Arginine could be used as an alternative to antimicrobial treatments, which have been viewed as overused over the last few years.
Today, the use and misuse of antimicrobials have driven the expansion of resistant microbes, and this causes the treatment to lose its ability to produce its intended result. “At present, around 10-15 percent of adults in the western world have advanced periodontitis (a gum infection that damages gums and destroys the jawbone), which can lead to loose teeth and even the loss of teeth. Therefore, there is a clear need for better methods to control dental plaque,” said Nick Jakubovics, a Newcastle University lecturer at the School of Dental Sciences.
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