A new mouthwash that eliminates the main bacteria that causes tooth decay has been tested on a small group of individuals in the US.
In a recent clinical study, 12 subjects who rinsed just one time with the experimental mouthwash experienced a nearly complete elimination of the S. mutans bacteria over the entire four-day testing period.
This new mouthwash is the product of nearly a decade of research conducted by Dr Wenyuan Shi, chair of the oral biology section at the UCLA School of Dentistry.
Tooth decay or cavities takes place due to a process called demineralization.
“Demineralization” simply describes the fact that mineral content have been dissolved out of a tooth’s hard tissues. Demineralization takes place when a tooth is exposed to acids. It’s a process that takes place a little bit every time a tooth is subjected to another acid attack.
So where do the acids come from?
The acids that cause tooth demineralization (cavity formation) are produced by specific types of bacteria that live in dental plaque (primarily lactobacilli and mutans streptococci).
When we eat and drink food, we create waste products. The bactiera do the same thing and their waste products are the very same acidic compounds that cause tooth demineralization.
While trials still need to be carried out on the new mouthwash, make sure you still visit your dentist and hygienist to ensure you maintain a healthy mouth.
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