Fluoride: bacteria slide on the teeth
All content is checked by medical journalists.MunichFluoride in toothpaste hardens teeth. But it also protects against tooth decay in a completely different way: fluoride ensures that caries bacteria do not adhere as well to the teeth. Researchers at Saarland University report that the mineral influences the pathogen's adhesive force.
Drain the bacteria
The team around physics professor Karin Jacobs investigated the role a thin fluoride layer plays in the interaction between bacteria and tooth surface. The researchers used specially manufactured hydroxyapatite platelets, which are similar in composition to tooth enamel, but have a very smooth surface and are therefore more suitable for high-resolution analysis methods than natural teeth. Using atomic force microscopy, they determined the adhesive force of various types of bacteria, including two caries pathogens (Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus oralis).
Result: The examined microorganisms - regardless of the species - only adhered half as strongly to fluoridated surfaces as to untreated surfaces. “We still have to investigate whether this result obtained in the laboratory is also valid in the oral cavity,” said Jacobs, commenting on the results. “In any case, it is interesting that fluoride generally appears to weaken bacterial adhesive forces.” In the future, this effect could also help, for example, to develop better tooth fillings, dentures and implants.
Sugar punctures teeth
Regular brushing of your teeth prevents tooth decay. The teeth are mainly protected from bacteria by the fluoride in the toothpaste. The mineral is built into the tooth enamel and thus hardens the tooth. Too much sugar is still the main reason for holes in your teeth. The bacteria in the mouth break down the sugar compounds, releasing acids that attack tooth enamel. The only preventive measure here is regular brushing with toothpaste containing fluoride. (in the)
Source: Jacobs, K. et al .: "Reduced adhesion of oral bacteria on hydroxyapatite by fluoride treatment", Journal Langmuir, http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/la4008558
