New teeth gel may prevent dental caries and tooth decay

China According to the World Health Organization, Dental caries is one of the most widespread non-communicable disease globally. Untreated caries could lead to worse pain, tooth loss, infection, and even illness or death. Therefore wantingly or unwantingly one has to undergo a painful process of filling up the cavities. Now scientists may seem to have found the answer.

Researchers have developed a bioactive peptide that coats tooth surfaces, helping prevent new cavities and heal existing ones in lab experiments. The study has been published in the ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.

Conventional treatment for dental cavities involves removing decayed tissue and filling the hole with materials, such as amalgam or composite resin. However, this procedure can damage healthy tissue and cause severe discomfort for patients. Hai Ming Wong, Quan Li Li, and colleagues wanted to develop a two-pronged strategy to prevent and treat tooth decay: 1) prevent the colonization of the tooth surface by the plaque-forming bacteria that cause cavities, and 2) reduce demineralization, or the dissolving of tooth enamel, while increasing remineralization, or repair.