Abstract
The numerous species that make up the oral microbiome are now understood to play a key role in establishment and maintenance of oral health. The ability to taxonomically identify community members at the species level is important to elucidating its diversity and association to health and disease. We report the overall ecological effects of using a toothpaste containing enzymes and proteins compared to a control toothpaste on the plaque microbiome. The results reported here demonstrate that a toothpaste containing enzymes and proteins can augment natural salivary defences to promote an overall community shift resulting in an increase in bacteria associated with gum health and a concomitant decrease in those associated with periodontal disease. Statistical analysis shows significant increases in 12 taxa associated with gum health including Neisseria spp. and a significant decrease in 10 taxa associated with periodontal disease including Treponema spp. The results demonstrate that a toothpaste containing enzymes and proteins can significantly shift the ecology of the oral microbiome (at species level) resulting in a community with a stronger association to health.
Highlights
Control the resident community[25]
Hypothiocyanite produced by the LPO system has antibacterial effects on both cariogenic bacteria[32] and black pigmented anaerobic bacteria associated with periodontal disease such as Porphyromas gingivalis[41]
In this paper we report for the first time an in vivo study using molecular metataxonomics[62] that demonstrates species level changes in the ecology of the oral microbiome after toothpaste use
Summary
Control the resident community[25]. Saliva is important in the formation of the pellicle, the thin acellular organic film that forms on oral surfaces following exposure to saliva[26]. Lactoferrin has been shown to permeabilise the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria making them susceptible to penetration by lysozyme[44] This action of lactoferrin is in addition to its main mode of action as an iron-binding protein which reduces the concentration of iron available as a co-factor for bacterial enzymes and in turn retards bacterial growth. Zendium contains a three enzyme system (amyloglucosidase, glucose oxidase and lactoperoxidase), designed to promote the generation of hydrogen peroxide and hypothiocyanite, as well as three further protein components (lysozyme, lactoferrin and immunoglobulin IgG), designed to provide additional antimicrobial benefits.
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