Amino Acid May improve Oral Health
Researchers from the University of Michigan (U-M) in Ann Arbor and Newcastle University in England have made a discovery that could significantly impact oral health.
Researchers from the University of Michigan (U-M) in Ann Arbor and Newcastle University in England have made a discovery that could significantly impact oral health—arginine, an amino acid naturally found in food, is capable of breaking down dental plaque. Alexander Rickard, PhD, an assistant professor of epidemiology at the U-M School of Public Health, and colleagues, found evidence of this breakdown in their research lab and published the results in the May issue of PLoS One.
Based on their initial research, it appears arginine can change how cells stick together, altering bacteria within biofilm colonies so they no longer stick to the tooth surface. L-arginine is found in red meat, poultry, fish, and dairy products, as well as a handful of consumer dental products most commonly used to treat dentinal hypersensitivity.
From Dimensions of Dental Hygiene. September 2015;13(9):16.
